The Verdon Gorge is the home of adventure rock clmbing in France and with limestone walls soaring thousands of feet above a clear, blue river - the Verdon is one of the ultimate rock climbing destinations in the world.
Situated in the south of France in the Haute-Provence region, the small village of La Palud is the climbing centre for the Verdon Gorge and a great spot for enjoying the charm that is prevalent in this part of the world.
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The canyon of the Verdon Gorge is almost two thousand feet deep with cliffs soaring for half of that height above the river canyon. Rappelling down the cliffs in the morning is often the crux of the day as there is a lot of air below the feet at the start of this descent.
The canyon bottom is a whitewater adventure in the spring and summer and by late fall, the river is low enough for mellow swimming or fun canyoneering in a spectacular setting.
Clear blue water running over smooth limestone pebbles make for a surreal and relaxing atmosphere in the bottom of the Verdon Gorge in Haute-Provence, France.
The local goats produce a tasty cheese as well as provide good company when accessing many of the roadside routes along the canyon rim of the Verdon
A view down into the central canyon of the Verdon with the south and north rims framing both sides of France's most inspiring river gorge.
Rappelling down the vertical, rim-top walls for 250 meters to a large ledge where many routes start in this sector of the Verdon.
Mid-way up a 5.11 multi-pitch route on the south face of the Verdon Gorge, France. The bolts on these routes are well spaced (5-10m) and so a small rack of nuts and cams would be helpful for protection in the numerous cracks which lace these walls.
Majka Burhardt just past the crux 5.11 section of a multi-pitch route in the Verdon
The less-explored southern rim of the central Verdon Gorge. The potential for new, multi-pitch routes in this canyon is immense as there are miles of unclimbed big-walls waiting for an adventurous climber to explore their flanks.
More mostly unclimbed rock on the southern rim of the Verdon Gorge
An old castle overlooking a small village in the south of France
A view across the central canyon and northern rim (south aspect) of the Verdon Gorge where the majority of the established climbing routes are located.
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