A week in Provence - Gorges du Verdon
Our next stop after Cassis was the Gorges du Verdon. We’d heard great things about it, but had never visited ourselves. I’d been following the adventures of Early Retirement Wanderlust during their time in Chamonix, and when I saw they were staying near the Gorges du Verdon, I asked them for a campsite recommendation. They were based in the nearby town of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and suggested a lovely, quiet spot called Camping St Jean.
After setting up our pitch, we headed off on foot to explore the town. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a beautiful village set dramatically between two limestone cliffs at the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon. Known for the golden star suspended high above the village which we could see from our pitch.
Its narrow cobbled streets are lined with stone houses, small cafés, and artisan shops. A short but steep walk leads to the Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir chapel above the village, rewarding visitors with lovely views over the rooftops and surrounding countryside.
The next day, we set off to visit the classic Gorge du Verdon viewpoint at the bridge, stopping to take the iconic Gorge du Verdon photo. It was very hot, and although we were tempted to hire a boat and head out onto the water, we settled instead for a slower pace - relaxing on the beach and cooling off with a refreshing dip. Even Basil went in for a swim.
Early Retirement Wanderlust had suggested a hike they’d done, descending from the top of the gorge down to the river - it sounded like the perfect spot for a picnic. We decided to give it a try. The drive there was a little nerve-wracking, with winding roads and sheer drops along the cliffs. Once we parked, we found the path and began the walk down to the water.
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We discovered a beautiful picnic spot: turquoise water flowing gently past a pebble beach, with towering cliffs above where eagles soared to and from their nests. After enjoying our lunch, we wandered along the gorge for a while before heading back toward the bridge to explore. The day ended with the steep climb back up to the van and a drive back to our campsite, just in time to catch a stunning sunset.
The next day we packed up and got on the road, driving through the Lavender Fields. Sadly a little late for the flowers but still, they looked impressive with the huge sky above. And we did stop at one of the road site gift shops to get some lavender bags and oil.
29 Euros a night for the van including the dog.
Clean showers, a bar onsite and a short walk to the town.
The pitches are shady and reasonably sized. The site was very peaceful when we were there.
March 1st to November 15th, 2025.
Opening hours :
Low season: 9am to 12pm & 2pm to 7pm
July and August: 8am to 9pm
