Page 71 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

THE RIVIER A AND THE ALPES M ARITIMES  69

creating enchanting shapes,
reminiscent of flowers, animals
and toadstools. If touched, the
stalactites become remarkably
resonant, but leave this to
the guide. Red oxide in the
limestone gives a rich colour to
the caves’ chambers: the Fairies’
Alcove, Great Hall, Hall of
Draperies and Organ Chamber,
all connected by narrow
underground passages, one
of which ends abruptly, 40 m
(130 ft) below ground, at the
edge of an abyss.
} Grottes de St-Cézaire-
sur-Siagne The village of Gourdon, on the edge of a rocky cliff
1481 route des Grottes. Tel 04 93 60
22 35. Open Feb–mid-Nov: daily. 4Gourdon fortress. Its vaulted rooms
& 8 obligatory. 0 = are remnants of Saracen
∑ grotte-saintcezaire.com Road map E3. * 421.
n 1 pl Victoria (08 11 81 10 67). occupation. The terrace gardens
∑ gourdon06.fr were laid out by André Le Nôtre
when the château was restored
For centuries, villages were in the 17th century. There are
built on hilltops, surrounded three distinct gardens – the
by ramparts. Gourdon is a Jardin à l’Italienne, the Jardin de
typical village perché (see Rocaille (or Provençal Gardens)
pp24–5), its shops filled with and the Jardin de l’Apothicaire
regional produce, perfume and with its own centrally located
local art. From the square at sundial. Although the château
its precipitous edge, there is is still privately owned and
a spectacular view of the Loup not open to the public, visitors
valley and the sea with Antibes can take a guided tour of the
and Cap Roux in the distance. gardens in groups during the
There are good views, summer months.
too, from the gardens of the
Château de Gourdon, built E Château de Gourdon
in the 12th century by the Tel 04 93 09 68 02. Open by
seigneurs du Bar, overlords of reservation for groups of 10 or more.
Inside the remarkable Grottes de Gourdon, on the foundations & 8 May–Aug: call ahead to check
St-Cézaire-sur-Siagne of what was once a Saracen for times. ∑ chateau-gourdon.com
Journey in the Gorges du Loup
The village of Gourdon is on the edge of the
Gorges du Loup, the most accessible of many
dramatic gorges running down to the coast. The
route up to the Gorges du Loup begins at Pré-du-
Loup, just east of Grasse, and leads to Gourdon.
From Gourdon, the D3 goes up into the gorge
and offers the best views, turning back down the
D6 after 6.5 km (4 miles).
Descending on the left bank, the road passes
the great pothole of Saut du Loup and the Cascades
des Demoiselles, where the river’s lime carbonate
content has partly solidified the vegetation. Just
beyond is the 40-m (130-ft) Cascade de Courmes,
which has a treacherously slippery stairway under it.
The D2210 continues to Vence, passing via
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, an art and craft centre on a
high plateau. The 15th-century church has a triptych
by the Bréa School and a 1st-century altar dedicated
to the Roman god Mercury. The 40-m (130-ft) Cascade de Courmes