Wild Alps, Verdon Canyon, Moustiers village, Lavender fields
Treat yourself to this tour rich in history, wild nature, unforgettable landscapes in the heart of the Alps; the turquoise waters of Lake Sainte Croie, the medieval village of Moustiers Sainte Marie, and the lavender fields as far as the eye can see. Once the customers have been picked up, we head towards the Gorges du Verdon located in Provence, in the Southern Alps. These gorges are dug by the VERDON river over a distance of 25 km, forming canyons up to 700 meters deep. These gorges are a tourist hotspot that attract admirers of natural landscapes, to practice sports (boating, white water, climbing, hiking, etc.), or to observe the protected fauna and flora within the Verdon regional natural park . We make several stops along these sublime roads to immortalize these landscapes and these moments. We follow the course of the VERDON to the SAINTE CROIX lake. This reservoir is the fourth largest in France in terms of surface area (around 2,200 ha). The lake has become a center of summer tourism, it is very popular for aquatic leisure activities, and for its beautiful turquoise waters. There are many pedal boats and various boats from June to September. We have our lunch at the Medieval village MOUSTIERS SAINTE MARIE, classified among the most beautiful villages in France, you will have free time to visit and discover this 5th century wonder. Known for its ceramic workshops during the 17th and 18th century, you can visit the famous Earthenware Museum inaugurated in 1930. Don't forget to admire the famous Moustiers star suspended by a 135 meter long chain stretched between two mountains, several tens of meters above the ground. Whose explanations of its existence are around 17 legends. Two other must-see monuments in this village are: The Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption parish church is classified as a historic monument, built between 1336 and 1361. The Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir chapel, located at the top of the village and which offers a magnificent view of the entire Valensole plateau with its lavender fields. This is Our next stop to admire and stroll in the middle of the lavender fields. Lavandin is the most famous crop on the plateau. Yet endangered for 30 years by foreign competition, it is used for the manufacture of Marseille soap, used by local beekeepers during flowering (June-July) to extract the famous lavender honey, distilled for perfume or scents and formerly for its medicinal virtues. We drive around the Sainte Croix lake to take photos before heading towards our starting point. On the road we stop at one of the Var vineyards for a wine tasting if we are in time. (optional). NB: the lavender fields only flower in June and July depending on climatic conditions and rainfall.