Castellane: Notre-Dame du Roc, rafting and the gateway to the Verdon Gorge

Castellane is a village of 1,472 residents in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, at 722 m, at the upstream entrance to the Verdon Gorge. It is overlooked by a 184 m rock crowned by the Notre-Dame du Roc chapel, at 903 m, which you can reach in about thirty minutes on foot from the centre, free of charge and all year round. It is the starting point for rafting and for many canyoning routes on the Verdon and its tributaries. From Tourtour, allow 64 km and about 1 h 20 by road.

Castellane at a glance

Castellane presents itself as the upstream gateway to the Verdon Gorge: this is where the Verdon enters the great canyon, and where most white-water trips start.

Climbing to Notre-Dame du Roc

The rock overlooking the village rises 184 m above the rooftops. It carries the Notre-Dame du Roc chapel, founded in the early 13th century, at 903 m. The Roc was already the site of the town in the early Middle Ages, and it is now a protected site.

• Duration: about 30 minutes up from the centre along the Roc path.
• Variant: a loop of about 5 km, graded easy, in just over two hours.
• Access: free, open all year.

At the top, the view takes in the village, the Verdon valley and the surrounding mountains. Bring water and good shoes: the path climbs steeply.

Rafting and canyoning

Castellane is the white-water base of the Verdon:

• Rafting takes place on the Verdon from Castellane, in a shared boat with a guide. The level depends on the day’s flow.
• Canyoning takes place in the side canyons around Castellane, from family river walks to sporty routes. See canyoning in the Verdon for levels, minimum ages and choosing a guide.

These activities are booked with professional operators. Always ask for the exact route, the minimum age and what is provided.

The village and its surroundings

• The Sirènes et fossiles exhibition (mermaids and fossils), at the Maison Nature & Patrimoines, Place Marcel-Sauvaire, in the old prison.
• The bridge over the Verdon, which has existed since the Middle Ages and was built in stone from the 15th century.
• Lake Castillon, a reservoir within the municipality. The village of Castillon, flooded when it was built, was merged into Castellane in 1948.

The Pétardiers festival

Every year, on the last weekend of January, Castellane celebrates the Pétardiers festival. It commemorates the attempted attack of 30 January 1586 by the Baron d’Allemagne and the Duke of Lesdiguières, repelled by the residents.

From Tourtour: planning the day

Castellane is at the opposite end of the gorge from Tourtour: make a big loop of it.

1. Go along the south rim: Aups, Lake Sainte-Croix, Aiguines, then the cliff road to Castellane.
2. Morning in Castellane: rafting, canyoning or the climb to Notre-Dame du Roc.
3. Return along the north rim: Point Sublime, La Palud-sur-Verdon and the Route des Crêtes, then Moustiers.

For the whole gorge, see the Verdon Gorge from Tourtour.