Frankrig / Verdon - Provence - Alpes du Sud

Take in the views of the ‘Rocher de Castellane’ and of ‘Mount Destourbes’ which seem to protect the region. You will be seduced by this dramatic landscape sculpted by the River Verdon.The sunlight of Provence on the mountains paints a colourful picture.

Sites to visit...

• Gorges du Verdon: carving through the rock, the River Verdon has created, along almost 30 kms, one of the most spectacular natural sites in Europe. Several viewpoints and circuits accessible on foot or by car allow everyone to enjoy these breathtaking gorges just 18 kms from the campsite.
• Castellane: overlooked by a 184 metre high rock crowned with a chapel, Castellane is one of the two entrances to the Verdon Gorge. The old medieval town is a maize of little pedestrian streets with colourful fronted shops and picturesque fountains.
• La Côte d'Azur: less than 2 hours away from Kawan Village International, discover the beaches of the French Riviera including famous places such as ‘la Croisette’ in Cannes or ‘la Promenade des Anglais’ in Nice. On the way, visit the fortified village of Entrevaux… it is well worthwhile.
• The Verdon Regional Park is waiting to be explored by walkers with numerous marked footpaths available. The scenery is magical: the green waters of the river have sculpted the gorges out of the mountains, the turquoise water of the lakes and the blue lavender fields.
  
  
  Several times a week guided walks are proposed by the campsite, taking you to explore the preserved countryside and vast open spaces the Verdon has to offer. The receptionists can also provide visitors with plans of circular walks nearby, including photos to help you follow your chosen circuit.
  
  
  
• Castellane Museums: an incredible sea voyage awaits you at the geological museum ‘Sirènes et fossiles’. Embark,parents and kids alike, to discover the mermaids and other sealife that once inhabited the Haute Provence region. Also worth a visit: the local Musée des Arts et traditions populaires.
  
  
  And also...
  
  
  
• Grasse: the perfume capital of the world. Visit the perfumeries, where sublime essences are blended together to produce some of the world's most exquisite scents (70 km)
• Lac de castillon (5km)
• Musée de la Préhistoire (Quinson, 80 km)

Some specialities to sample...

• Bathed by the scents and flavours of Provence, the Gorges du Verdon area is greatly influenced by the Mediterranean. Delicious ‘tapenade’, a speciality from Nice, is widely available. Made with crushed olives, anchovies and capers, ‘tapenade’ is used to top bread and is the perfect accompaniment to a glass of red wine as an aperitif.
  
  
  Along with ‘tapenade’, you can find other local produce, such as wild boar ‘saucisson’ for example, on the local Castellane market held every Wednesday and Saturday morning.
  
  
  
• The vineyards of the ‘Côtes de Provence’, famous for their rosé wines, stretch from Draguignan, 50 kms south of Castellane, down to the shores of the Mediterranean.
  
  
  The campsite receptionists will be able to indicate the best places to sample the local produce.

Some useful websites

• www.castellane.org (EN)
• www.alpes-haute-provence.com (EN)
• www.aboard-rafting.com (EN)