Far from the maddening crowds

Day:4
Miles: 1070/200 (but they count double)
Coordinates: far from the maddening crowds

We left Toulon heading to Cannes. We opted to swap the busy & monochrome autoroute for mountainous national roads that would take us through Haut Var villages to the magnificent Verdon Gorge and then south to Cannes (and civilisation).

We were in for a treat. The first part of the journey, between Vidauban and Lorgues was a picture perfect drive under tree canopies and thick pine forests. Lorgues itself, with its beautiful old buildings and happy vibe proved to be well worth a visit - but you'll never see it in any brochures (probably a blessing).

We then continued the ascent through Aups (a black truffle hotpsot, as we learned) until we reached Aiguines. No words are enough to describe the natural beauty that rewards the traveller that decides to make it this far. Just before Aiguines, the road reaches a palteau and offers a vista of Lac St Croix de Verdon below. If this does not move you nothing will.

Then we reached Aiguines, a medieval village perched on the mountain face, overlooking the lake and the beginning of the reknowned Gorge de Verdon. Sacre bleu! Quel village! Weather-beaten exposed rock, medieval castle ruins, deep chasms ending to the Verdon river...you get the picture. Once again our outmost thanks to travel agents for leaving this gem out of their brochures and allowing it to remain so pristine. Nevertheless, there still was a tourist contingent there, but unlike the usual suspects these were motorcycle-club bikers, tour-de-france-candidates on training, drivers preparing to drive along the gorge (same as us), paragliders & alternative eco-tourists.

And finally, the main reason of this day's journey. Drive along D71, along the left bank of the Gorge de Verdon, Europe's Grand Canyon, probably one of the most breath-taking drives in the world. 22 miles of tight, snaking mountain road giving jaw-dropping vistas to the gorge and the river below, as well as the wild, weather beaten and intimidating rocky mountain alternating with thick pine tree forests and sun-burned bushes over which birds of prey flew.

When we were charting this euro-tour, the Alpine passes north of the italian lakes held the top spot in the quest for the best driving road in Europe. Tell you what..After driving along the Verdon gorge, the Alps have to be damn good to get back in the game.

We eventually crossed D71 exhausted from the heat but with our senses saturated by nature's drama & beauty. Next stop, the maddening crowds themselves. Cannes.