Culture and heritage or cultural heritage? We’ll try to explore all directions. Verdon Xp offers whitewater activities. For those expecting university-level articles. This may not be the best place.

By “heritage” or “cultural heritage” we mean the heritage handed down to us by the Verdon’s former inhabitants. To make things a little clearer, we thought it would be useful to divide this section into four subsections.

History

A valley occupied since prehistoric times, and even before that by lemurs… Close to Combs sur Artuby, Julius Caesar set up his legions in what is now Camps Juers, one of the largest military camps in Europe. Then came the religious wars and, closer to home, the resistance during the Second World War. A valley that tells its own story!

The region’s rich historical heritage is well worth a visit.

From prehistory to antiquity:

The first traces of human occupation in the Verdon go back to prehistoric times. Remains of carved stone tools have been discovered in the gorges, attesting to the presence of hunter-gatherers as early as the Palaeolithic. During Antiquity, several Celtic tribes settled in the region, leaving behind oppida on the heights, such as La Colle.

Roman times:

The arrival of the Romans in the 1st century BC marked a turning point in the history of the Verdon. They built agricultural villas, roads and aqueducts, such as the one at Riez, which supplied the city of Aix-en-Provence. The region thus became a center of agricultural production and an important communications axis.

Middle Ages:

The Middle Ages saw a period of upheaval in the Verdon. Barbarian invasions and feudal conflicts weakened the region. Numerous villages were fortified and castles built, such as the Château de Gréasque and the Château d’Aiguines. It was also during this period that monasteries developed, playing an important role in the spiritual and economic life of the region.

Modern era:

The modern era brought renewed prosperity to the Verdon. Agriculture expanded, new crops were introduced and crafts flourished. The region also becomes a center for silk production.

19th century:

The 19th century is a century of major transformations in the Verdon. Construction of roads and railroads opened up the region and encouraged the development of tourism. Major development projects were undertaken, including the construction of the Sainte-Croix and Sillans dams.

he 20th century:

The 20th century was marked by two major events: the creation of the Verdon Regional Nature Park in 1997 and the construction of the five dams. These events made it possible to preserve the natural beauty of the site and develop sustainable tourism.

Today, the Verdon’s historical heritage is rich and varied. It includes archaeological sites, hilltop villages, castles, churches and museums. It allows you to retrace the region’s history from prehistoric times to the present day, and to discover the daily lives of Verdon’s inhabitants through the centuries.

Verdon Lakes

Culture and heritage? The Lacs du Verdon, located in the Verdon Regional Nature Park, offer a spectacular landscape of gorges, lakes and mountains. And yes, the five man-made lakes of the Verdon would not exist without man’s efforts. In fact, they are part of the heritage that everyone can enjoy during the summer season.

But the region also boasts a rich culture and heritage that’s well worth a visit.

The Verdon villages

Not to be outdone, the Verdon park is made up of 42 communes and just as many charming Provencal villages. We’ll tell you all about them in a few articles. As you travel along the shores of the lakes, you’ll discover charming perched villages like Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Aiguines and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. These villages have retained their authentic Provencal character, with narrow streets, stone houses and shady squares.