The Gorges du Verdon: The Sentier Blanc-Martel and the Route des Crêtes
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
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400
XP
+100 France
= 500 total
1 day
The Gorges du Verdon: The Sentier Blanc-Martel and the Route des Crêtes
400 + 100 XP
At the east end of the canyon the Pont de l'Artuby, properly the pont de Chaulière, crosses the Artuby gorge on a single arch: 110 metres long and 140 metres above the river, built between 1938 and 1947, and now one of the best-known bungee jumps in France.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk the Sentier Blanc-Martel from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime and find four things on the way: the étroit des Cavaliers where the walls close to under 300 m apart, the cave of the Baume-aux-Bœufs, the twin monolithic Tours de Trescaïre on the far bank, and, 250 m inside the last tunnel, the window cut in the rock that opens onto the Baume-aux-Pigeons
2
of 4
Drive the Route des Crêtes clockwise, starting at the Auberge des Crêtes and finishing at La Palud-sur-Verdon as the one-way section requires, and stop at the belvederes of Trescaïre, la Carelle and la Dent d'Aïre to look straight down into the canyon
3
of 4
Paddle a kayak or pedal boat from the Pont du Galetas into the lower gorge, where the Verdon enters the Lac de Sainte-Croix
4
of 4
Stand on the Pont de l'Artuby, 110 m of single arch 140 m above the water, watch a jumper go off it if anyone is on the rope, then drive to the Mescla belvedere and look 200 m straight down to where the Artuby runs into the Verdon
Walk the Sentier Blanc-Martel from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime and find four things on the way: the étroit des Cavaliers where the walls close to under 300 m apart, the cave of the Baume-aux-Bœufs, the twin monolithic Tours de Trescaïre on the far bank, and, 250 m inside the last tunnel, the window cut in the rock that opens onto the Baume-aux-Pigeons
Drive the Route des Crêtes clockwise, starting at the Auberge des Crêtes and finishing at La Palud-sur-Verdon as the one-way section requires, and stop at the belvederes of Trescaïre, la Carelle and la Dent d'Aïre to look straight down into the canyon
Paddle a kayak or pedal boat from the Pont du Galetas into the lower gorge, where the Verdon enters the Lac de Sainte-Croix
Stand on the Pont de l'Artuby, 110 m of single arch 140 m above the water, watch a jumper go off it if anyone is on the rope, then drive to the Mescla belvedere and look 200 m straight down to where the Artuby runs into the Verdon
Before you go
The Sentier Blanc-Martel takes seven to eight hours one way from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime with the Mescla detour. Everyone needs a torch for the three tunnels, the last of them 670 m long and curved, and a warm layer for them; carry at least two litres of water each, as there is none on the route. The Brèche Imbert is six ladders and 252 metal steps down 100 m of cliff, and is hard for anyone who does not like heights.
The Blanc-Martel is a one-way walk: the two ends are 17 km apart by road. Either leave a second vehicle at the far end or use the seasonal shuttle bus between the Point Sublime and the Chalet de la Maline, and check it is running before you set off. In summer walk from La Maline towards the Point Sublime, so the steep ground is downhill and the sun is behind you.
The Route des Crêtes is limited to 12 m in length and 3.6 m in height, so most coachbuilt motorhomes are fine but anything taller or towing is not; there is nowhere to turn once you are on the one-way section.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
400 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
500 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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