Sainte-Croix lake, the third largest artificial lake in France, will charm you with its turquoise color and the beauty of the different viewpoints it offers! The tour of the lake takes about 1 hour by car, for about 60 kilometers.
Take the time to stop in the main villages that border the lake to contemplate it from every angle...
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie : only 5 minutes from Sainte-Croix lake !
From Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, you are 5 minutes by car from the Nautical base La Cadeno, on one of the most beautiful beaches of the Sainte-Croix lake.
This nautical base offers you a free parking, a snack bar to enjoy a crêpe or a refreshing drink and proposes the renting of canoes, kayaks, pedalos and paddles if you wish to rhythm your vacations with a nice sport activity!
10 minutes from our village, (~5 minutes after La Cadeno), you will arrive in front of the Galetas bridge, offering an exceptional view on the exit of the biggest Canyon in Europe. L’Etoile Nautical Base awaits you, without reservation, for a maximum of two hours of adventure in the Verdon Gorges by pedalo, canoe, kayak or electric boat.
Ideas to experience Sainte-Croix lake!
Les Salles-sur-Verdon, by the lake
On the way to Les Salles-sur-Verdon, you will see a fork in the road on the left towards Aiguines: a hilltop village offering a splendid view of the whole Sainte-Croix lake. By taking the direction of this village, you will engage on the left bank of the Verdon Gorges and the Corniche Sublime; guaranteed sensations!
The village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon is also worth a stop. If only for its history... The old village was swallowed up by the waters of Sainte-Croix lake and the "new" one was rebuilt on a promontory, two minutes walk from the lake. Rich of its history, stop in front of the fountain of the old village which was carefully deposited and the two wash houses which were rebuilt identically.
Crédit photo : Net-Verdon.com
Bauduen, village of the Haut-Var near the Sainte-Croix lake
Leaving Les Salles-sur-Verdon, another village of the Haut-Var is worth seeing : Bauduen, 20 minutes by car, its configuration reminds that of Moustiers. Village on a cliffside with a pedestrian center that houses the toy museum. There are numerous truffle estates near the village as well as a marina that is pleasant to walk to. At the top of the village, troglodyte houses offer an unforgettable experience during the visit of this magnificent village!
Crédit photo : VisitVar.fr
Bauduen → Sainte-Croix du Verdon
A 10 minute drive will take you past the Sainte-Croix dam. You can stop at the bridge with a long view of the Sainte-Croix lake and the mountain range of the Montdenier massif in the background. Whatever the season, this panorama offers a breathtaking array of colors!
The village of Sainte-Croix, on the shores of the lake of the same name, is a magnificent stone village with different viewpoints on the lake. The "sentier du muletier", a family trail of about two hours will allow you to hike along the banks of the lake; ideal to appreciate the view!
By leaving the village by car in the direction of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, you will reach the Plateau de Valensole. Between mid-June and mid-July, the color of the lavender fields mixes with the color of the lake below and gratifies the spectators with a real firework display for the eyes but also the sense of smell!
To go further...
From the Provencal village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, at the entrance of the Verdon Gorges, you can reach the first beaches of the lake in ~1h15 walking. It will be easy for you to find a place in the shade of the oaks which border this beach. Depending on the season, you will be able to enjoy the spring song of the birds under the sun which becomes hotter and hotter, the mild temperatures of the lake in summer, the autumnal colors in late season or the disconcerting calm in winter...
