The Gorges de Daluis is a six-kilometer-long canyon formed by the river Var in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It runs south from Guillaumes to Daluis.
The canyon starts off at Guillaumes, running north to south, west of the Dôme de Barrot , and ends at the small commune of Daluis, where the Var widens. The 6-kilometer-long gorge [1] is cut in the red rock ( sandstone colored by iron oxide, 260 million years old) [2] by the river Var. Notable views along the gorge (a touristic high point [2] and one of a number of "long, lonely canyons" in the area) [3] include the final waterfall of the Clue d'Amen. [4]
The area is dominated by the Dôme de Barrot, 2136 meters high, [2] dating from the Permian. [5] Former copper mining operations in the Dôme are still visible from the gorge, [6] [7] and unique mineral specimens have been found there. [8]
During the Beuil-Guillaumes insurrection of July–August 1944, the Pont de Berthéou was one of two bridges blown up by the French resistance in July 1944 (the Pont du Pra d'Astier on 7 July, the Pont de Berthéou the following day) in an attempt to halt German troops advancing toward Guillaumes. [9]
South from Guillaumes, the D902/D2202 runs on the west side of the gorge, with the southbound lane going through 17 tunnels. [10] The (now defunct) Alpes-Maritimes railroad line from Pont-de-Gueydan to Guillaumes, inaugurated in 1923, runs east from Guillaumes and crosses the gorge at the Pont de la Mariée, spanning 58 meters. Bungee jumping is done from the 80-meter-high bridge. [2] [10] Other notable sights include the Tête de la Femme, a rock formation resembling a woman's head on the west side of the road, just north of the Pont de Berthéou, [2] and the gorge is a popular destination for rafting [11] and canoeing. [12] The road along the gorge lends itself to motorcycle [13] and bicycle tourism. [14]
The Gorges de Daluis is a six-kilometer-long canyon formed by the river Var in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It runs south from Guillaumes to Daluis.
The canyon starts off at Guillaumes, running north to south, west of the Dôme de Barrot , and ends at the small commune of Daluis, where the Var widens. The 6-kilometer-long gorge [1] is cut in the red rock ( sandstone colored by iron oxide, 260 million years old) [2] by the river Var. Notable views along the gorge (a touristic high point [2] and one of a number of "long, lonely canyons" in the area) [3] include the final waterfall of the Clue d'Amen. [4]
The area is dominated by the Dôme de Barrot, 2136 meters high, [2] dating from the Permian. [5] Former copper mining operations in the Dôme are still visible from the gorge, [6] [7] and unique mineral specimens have been found there. [8]
During the Beuil-Guillaumes insurrection of July–August 1944, the Pont de Berthéou was one of two bridges blown up by the French resistance in July 1944 (the Pont du Pra d'Astier on 7 July, the Pont de Berthéou the following day) in an attempt to halt German troops advancing toward Guillaumes. [9]
South from Guillaumes, the D902/D2202 runs on the west side of the gorge, with the southbound lane going through 17 tunnels. [10] The (now defunct) Alpes-Maritimes railroad line from Pont-de-Gueydan to Guillaumes, inaugurated in 1923, runs east from Guillaumes and crosses the gorge at the Pont de la Mariée, spanning 58 meters. Bungee jumping is done from the 80-meter-high bridge. [2] [10] Other notable sights include the Tête de la Femme, a rock formation resembling a woman's head on the west side of the road, just north of the Pont de Berthéou, [2] and the gorge is a popular destination for rafting [11] and canoeing. [12] The road along the gorge lends itself to motorcycle [13] and bicycle tourism. [14]