Photo: Verdon Gorge Chapel Castellane France

The view from the Verdon Gorge chapel, Notre Dame du Roc is spectacular, high above the town of Castellane in the Alpes de Haute region of Provence, France.

The town of Castellane is located at the eastern entrance to the Gorges du Verdon in the Alpes de Haute region of Provence, France. Castellane is at the base of a huge steep rock on top of which stands the Verdon Gorge chapel - Notre Dame du Roc, (Our Lady of the Rock) which dates back to the early 18th century.The summit of this rock was originally the site of the Roman fortified town of Petra Castellana, but gradually, over the years, the people descended and settled at the base of the crag. By the 13th century the exodus was complete. The present town of Castellane in the Verdon Gorge, Provence sits at the junction of the Upper Verdon Road and Route Napoleon.To reach the Notre Dame du Roc Chapel, be prepared for a thirty minute hike, starting from the path behind the Castellane church. The way up is formed by the remains of the old city walls and is a pleasant journey passing the Stations of the Cross. ... continue below the picture...

... The terrace of Notre Dame du Roc is a great viewpoint to look down on the town of Castellane, the Napoleon Bridge and the Verdon Gorge scenery. Notre Dame du Roc chapel was built on the site of the Roman fort but there are still ruins of Petra Castellana to be seen. The first record of Petra Castellana was in 965, before that the settlement was called Salinae supposedly due to salt-water springs in the vicinity.Castellane in Provence, France is a pleasant little town with a Saturday morning market, narrow streets and the Place marcel-Sauvaire edged with delightful arcades.Notre Dame du Roc Chapel in the town of Castellane, Alpes de Haute, Provence, France, Europe.