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Located in Baudinard-sur-Verdon. Enjoy truly breath taking views of the wild countryside and spectacular sunsets, an artist's delight. Opposite a restaurant giving the convenience of a hotel. An old three story house village house set in a beautiful village near the Lac de Sainte Croix and Gorges du Verdon. It has a large terrace of 18 m². The village, perched on a hill at an altitude of 630 meters, has maintained its old fashioned Provençal appeal and is in the midst of a nature reserve, which is rich in flora and fauna. The scenery here is astonishing and diverse. This area was never really discovered until the beginning of the 20th century, the two Verdon Gorges have fascinated innumerable visitors ever since. The two canyons are separated by the Lac de Sainte Croix. One is called Les Hautes (upper canyon) and the other is called Les Basses (lower canyon).
Things to do
Relax and watch the world go by on the terrace or on one of the many beaches on the nearby lake.
Walking
The Canyon of Baudinard should not be missed. Cliffs of up to 150 meters, home to many caves, beautiful clear turquoise water. It defines the 13 kilometre long path called le Sentier des Basses Gorges. Be warned, it's not for those who are afraid of heights! There are many marked out paths in the area and general walks near the village that are excellent for viewing the diverse Provençale flora of the region. For example, le Sentier Botanique of 2 km in length, or the path du Museau de la Colline which takes you to the 16th century chapel of Notre Dame de la Garde at an altitude of 710 meters. From here, you will enjoy a tremendous vantage point of six departments of the Var.
In Baudinard, you could visit the 11th century church of Saint Michel l'Archange, restored in 1921; le pont Silvestre (built near the remains of a Roman bridge), the three shrines of Ste Catherine, St Espero and St Etienne, or the 14th century dungeon of the Chateau de Sabran. A classified historic building, l'Abbaye de Valmogne, is situated on le chemin de Vaumougne. This superb Roman priory of the 13th century has been recently restored and is well worth a visit. There are walks and hikes along the edge of the river Verdon, as well as walks that take in villages and vantage points. Whatever walk you choose, you can be sure of the most awe-inspiring scenery, a wealth of wildlife and a wide variety of wildflowers, plants and birds.
Action and Adventure Activities
The Gorge and the lakes of the Verdon river are the home of many companies specialising in action and adventure activities such as white water rafting, canoeing, canyoning, kayaking, sailing, water skiing, climbing, trekking, mountain bike rides paragliding, free flight, gliding, and horse riding. It is also one of the most memorable settings in the world for fishing. It is sheer nature at its best featuring crystal clear emerald waters and white canyon cliffs 700 meters high above your head. It is a paradise for hikers, climbers and fly-fishers.
Le Parc naturel du Verdon
The Gorge and Lake are in a Natural Park, and there has been a successful programme over the last few years to re-introduce wildlife such as golden eagles and vultures, which can frequently be seen souring above the mountains or down into the Gorge. There are many different varieties of lizards and geckoes to be seen on a hot day as well as crickets and cicadas. The scenery is enhanced by the abundance of wild flowers and shrubs throughout the year. In April the acacia trees bring white fragrant blossoms whilst the elegant wild irises are a mass of colour and the rarer dwarf varieties in their different colours and hues can often be spotted. May brings the vibrant yellow blooms which abound on the mountain and roadsides. Wild flowers such as the delicate purple columbine, sweet peas, and many varieties of orchid are numerous in the area.
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