The Verdon dams - Cycling tour 04

Between the superb panoramas, the lakes of the Verdon dams and the pleasures of the palate, you will be charmed!

In Aups, park at the car park below the Place Martin Bidouré (alongside the medical centre) and go to the starting point in front of the tourist office / House of the truffle. Follow the signs " Les barrages du Verdon - n°4" and leave Aups by the D 957. At the roundabout, take the D 9 towards Moissac-Bellevue. On a green road with a clear view, pass the Collet de la Garde and arrive at the bottom of Moissac-Bellevue.

Go up the D 9 to reach the village and cross it. Stop for a moment to admire the beautiful panorama from the fountain and quench your thirst at the adjacent watering hole! Through the charming narrow streets, leave Moissac on a sloping municipal road (beware, the surface is a little worn). Return to the D 30 and arrive in Régusse on the D 260.

On leaving the village, after 500 m, turn left onto the D 30 and on this pleasant oak-lined road, reach Montmeyan.

Take on your right the D 13, pedal on a peaceful road with a view on the distant massifs until the Verdon lower gorges. Near the bridge of the Quinson lake, stop for a moment to admire the superb Verdon gorges. Then pass at the foot of the village of Quinson.

Go up to the right on the D 11 (towards Riez) and at the crossroads, follow the D 311 to Saint-Laurent-du-Verdon.

By the D 411, go down in the middle of the fields. Go along the Artignosc lake (water level of the Quinson dam) and cross the Verdon again. Then go up along the D 471 towards Artignosc-sur-Verdon.

Go through the village, past the pretty square with wash house and church, turn left and follow the D 71. Go past the fortified farm of Fontayne. Cross a vast plateau with alternating fields of wheat and lavender, then turn left on the D 9 to reach Baudinard-sur-Verdon.

Leave the village by the D 9 then take the D 71 which offers a sumptuous view of the Verdon lower gorges and the Sainte-Croix dam. After seeing the bridge, continue to the right on the D 71 overlooking the superb Sainte-Croix lake with the Montdenier ridge in the background (first Alpine foothills).

At Font Castellan , you have the possibility, by turning left, to reach the village of Bauduen of which you can see the marina. (4 km round trip, + 15 mn, remains of ramparts, severe style castle). Then, turn right onto the D 49 which climbs through a bas-alpine landscape. At La Majastre, turn right onto the D 957 then climb to Collet-de-l'Hubac de la Darre (orientation table). After this beautiful panorama of the ridge line of the Cugulons and Espiguières mountains, descend to Aups.

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