Rougon, a charming Verdon village

Rougon is one of those must-see places when you visit the Verdon region: on the high perched territory of this small commune, everyone is looking for one of the most beautiful viewpoints over the Gorges du Verdon, the aptly named Point Sublime.

This popular viewpoint is set below the village: impossible to miss with all the cars parked by the roadside! Here, the view of the canyon is grandiose, in the axis of the Couloir Samson, a narrow gorge with sheer walls: the photo is splendid. From Point Sublime, you'd never guess there was a village 3km further on, at the end of a winding road. With its mountain and Provencal ambience, there's no doubt about it: we're in the Alpes de Haute-Provence!

Rougon, with just over 120 inhabitants, is very small: it's easy to get around, wandering through its pretty little streets at your own pace. The village is like an eagle's nest, planted at the foot of a rocky spur at an altitude of 950m. The old houses, the old wash-house, the Place de la Mairie, the chapel of Saint Christophe and the ruins of the medieval castle dominate the landscape, revealing a small but charming heritage.

With its small size, Rougon remains calm in all seasons: it's a great base for exploring the Verdon region, which has a small but varied range of accommodation (a municipal campsite, a B&B, an inn and a few holiday rentals).

In Rougon, as elsewhere in the Gorges du Verdon, people spend their time outdoors. And often with their noses in the air! It has to be said that the commune is a pioneer in the reintroduction of the vulture in the area, a species which had unfortunately disappeared from the Verdon canyon.

Today, vultures are particularly fond of nesting on the limestone cliffs that dominate Rougon, and of course in those that enclose the gorges themselves. A vulture-watching post is often set up in the village for amateur birdwatchers. Different species can be seen: the griffon vulture, the black vulture, the Egyptian vulture and the bearded vulture... Get your binoculars!

The most famous hiking route in the gorges, the Blanc Martel trail, also ends (or begins, but with more difficult descents) at Point Sublime in Rougon. You can choose to hike the whole way from the Chalet de la Maline (La Palud-sur-Verdon), or venture out on a short section following the GR4 markers, via the dark tunnels of the Couloir de Samson (headlamp strongly recommended!).

The Navette Blanc Martel runs a regular seasonal service between the Chalet de la Maline and Point Sublime, the start and finish of the hike of the same name, via Palud-sur-Verdon.

On a different note, another lovely walk takes you out of the centre of Rougon and onto the Suech plateau, at an altitude of 1,200m: more great views of the Verdon canyon and the surrounding area, and for the lucky ones, the majestic flight of a marauding griffon vulture!