Grande Canyon du Verdon
Aups market square - I'll just park to buy some veg!
Aups - market day gathering
traditional Dubonnet sign
fine wrought iron campanile on the clock tower
Aups
Alleyway
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Verdon
The Var département stretches from the Cote d'Azur to the Alps and is a
mixture of rough terrain, the garrigue and rocky hills. A good starting
point is the small town of Moustiers Ste Marie in the north west
Moustiers Ste Marie
The area includes the Grande
Canyon du Verdon which is one of the most impressive sites in France.
The road from Moustiers Ste Marie to Castellane on the northern side of
the canyon is fairly easy driving with a few narrow and rocky sections
but with plenty of viewpoints especially at the Point Sublime. There is
a narrow road circuit the Route des Cretes from here around the top
of the canyon and also another narrow road which leads to the river. At the
western end of the canyon is the vivid blue Lac de Ste Croix where there
are many places for watersport activities and an aire for motorhomes in
the pretty village of Ste Croix du Verdon on the western bank
Lac de Ste Croix
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Aups
We visited Aups near Draguignan many years ago when it was a small
market town lost in a time-warp. Revisiting now, although there are a few
more tourist shops the old quarter of narrow streets has changed little.
The market square, said to have the most plane trees and fountains in the
Var, is still
the centre of activity, or at least meeting to pass the day, with a
typical assortment of market stalls several days each week.
The old quarter of Aups is well worth a
stroll around especially if you can catch a glimpse into the open doorways
of the old houses.
There was even washing drying in the wash-house
Ancient doorway
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