La Palud-sur-Verdon: Route des Crêtes, Maison des Gorges and climbing

La Palud-sur-Verdon is a village of 347 residents in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, perched at 928 m on the north rim of the Verdon Gorge, 59 km and about 1 h 05 from Tourtour. It is the starting point of the Route des Crêtes and its 14 viewpoints, which include the Chalet de la Maline, the start of the Blanc-Martel trail. Its listed château houses the town hall, the tourist office and the Maison des Gorges du Verdon museum. The gorge's cliffs have made it a famous climbing destination.

La Palud at a glance

The Route des Crêtes

The Route des Crêtes (D23) starts 800 m from the village, towards Rougon. It lines up 14 viewpoints along the north rim of the canyon and is driven clockwise. Its central section closes in winter. Full details: the Route des Crêtes.

The Maison des Gorges du Verdon

The La Palud château, a listed historic monument, houses the town hall, the tourist office, the library and the Maison des Gorges du Verdon museum, part of the gorge’s museum network. It is a good place to get information before setting off on the road or the trails.

Hiking: the Blanc-Martel trail

The Chalet de la Maline, on the Route des Crêtes, is the recommended start of the Blanc-Martel trail: about 15 km along the bottom of the canyon to Point Sublime, with tunnels and ladders. See hiking in the gorge and Point Sublime and the Couloir Samson.

Climbing

The cliffs of the Verdon Gorge have more than 2,500 climbing routes, climbed since 1968. Some are closed to protect nesting vultures. The climber Patrick Edlinger filmed Opéra vertical here, and he died in La Palud. For a first try, go with a mountain or climbing guide.

From Tourtour

Allow just over an hour. La Palud fits into the Verdon Gorge loop: south rim via Aiguines, Castellane, then back via Point Sublime, La Palud and the Route des Crêtes.