Lac d'Esparron - The beaches

THE LAKE OF ESPARRON-DE-VERDON

The wildest and most inaccessible of the artificial lakes of the Verdon was created in 1967. This lake, downstream of the lower Gorges du Verdon, offers to anyone who wants to take a break, its Provence secrets, its characteristic landscape and its calm water gorges. This reserve of drinking water with its turquoise colours, is full of riches to be discovered.

With a surface area of 160 hectares, 400 acres, the lake of Esparron de Verdon offers a magnificent landscape perfect for electric boat rides. Since combustion engine boats are prohibited on the lake, there is a quiet and relaxing atmosphere there. Whether to stop over one of the hundreds coves of the lake or to explore the lower Gorges du Verdon, Alize Electronic Location boats lend themselves magnificently to this setting reminiscent of Corsica, the island of beauty. The landscape of the Gorges du Verdon is breathtakingly beautiful. Resulting from the erosion of the Verdon river, the lower Gorges du Verdon are huge limestone cliffs nowadays. Crossing the whole gorges can be done in electric boat in half a day (around 4 hours back and forth).

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SITES

THE BEACHES

Accessible on foot by the old path used to monitor the Canal de Provence, the beaches are of all sizes, shaded or sunny; wild and calm, they are part of the essential stops on your visit of the lake.

THE "QUARTIER" OR THE ISLAND OF THE BEARDED MAN

It is a small peninsula, in front of the village of Esparron de Verdon, accessible by boat, that Occitans call the "Quartier" or "Ile du Barbu". This little paradise is composed of beaches, green meadows and small peaceful creeks in the shade of old oaks, olive trees and junipers.

It is located 30 minutes away from the beach of St Julien. It will reveal the village of Esparron if you go around it.

THE CLIFFS AND THE VILLAGE OF ESPARRON

Spreading over more than one kilometer, the cliffs of Esparron are full of riches not to be missed. This is probably the only place in the Verdon where you'd better be walking by looking only at the ground....

Then, discover the picturesque village of Esparron-de-Verdon overlooked by its castle and 11th century tower

The cliffs are 20 minutes boat away and the village of Esparron-de-Verdon is 30 minutes boat away.

THE CANAL LOCKS

Built under Napoleon III by convicts, they used to split the canal supplying drinking water to about a hundred Provence villages. Remains of this old canal, they can be seen by boat at the entrance of the lower Gorges du Verdon on your right, in a recess.

They are 45 minutes away from the beach of St Julien.

THE LOWER GORGES DU VERDON

The landscape of the Gorges du Verdon is breathtakingly beautiful. Resulting from the erosion of the Verdon river, the lower Gorges du Verdon are huge limestone cliffs nowadays, with numerous caves that bear witness to past human activities. These caves can be seen from the boat and accessing them is strictly forbidden.

The lower Gorges du Verdon entrance is 45 minutes away from the beach of St Julien. Visiting the whole lower gorges can be done in around 5 hours back and forth.

Many other caves and sites can be discovered along the lower Gorges du Verdon, in the respect of the place. We remind you that visiting caves is strictly forbidden.