Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting Around
Roads are slow and winding, rising and falling precipitously, often without guardrails.
Don't pull a Princess Grace. Check weather (
la météo
) before setting out: you'll need
snow tyres from October to March, possibly chains. Towns adjacent on maps may be
vastly divided in altitude: budget extra time. Many mountain passes (
cols
) close in winter-
time, notably around Barcelonnette. Use a good paper map and follow main roads, from
autumn to spring. Do
not
trust GPS, which leaves countless motorists stranded on knife-
edge routes too narrow to turn around on.
THREE PERFECT DAYS
Day 1: Lavender on the Horizon
Summertime brings to life postcard images of fields of purple lavender, colouring the countryside and perfuming
the breeze. Pack a picnic in Forcalquier, then cycle or drive - windows down - to Mane's beautiful 13th-century
priory, Prieuré de Salagon (
Click here
)
. Cross the River Durance toward the little-trafficked D6, along Plateau de
Valensole and Provence's greatest concentration of lavender farms. End the day in magical Moustiers Ste-Marie
and eat like a king.
Day 2: Grand Canyon Explorer
To beat the crowds, arrive early at the Gorges du Verdon, and set out on a river expedition, day hike or drive
above Europe's largest canyon. At day's end, wind up back in Moustiers Ste-Marie to wander its pretty streets and
spend another night in comfy digs. Or follow the gorge eastward toward Castellane, where you can overnight in
less-glam lodging and better position yourself for tomorrow.
Day 3: High-Mountain Road Trip
Get ready to drive, and head for the dramatic landscapes of Parc National du Mercantour. Make a loop around the
red-rock landscapes of Gorges du Cians, then drop down to Nice. If you can add a day, aim instead for dramatic
Vallée de l'Ubaye, via Vallée du Haut Verdon (summer only), then loop back to civilisation towards the A51
autoroute (the fast road to Aix, Avignon or Marseille); alternatively from the Ubaye, wind over the mountains
from Barcelonnette southeastward, via Vallée de la Tinée, toward Nice.
Advance Planning
»Distances are great, lodgings few. Plan accordingly and make reservations before dark -
tourism offices can help if you're stuck.
