The irresistible adventure> Superlatives
Day 3: On the vertiginous ridges
alt_route Stage 1 / Option 2 - Sublime Point and Samson Corridor
Le Point Sublime is located on the right bank of the Gorges du Verdon. Below, the waters of the Verdon and their special green color are visible, while downstream, imposing cliffs invite contemplation.
To reach the heart of the gorges, from Point Sublime join the Couloir Samson. At its level, the walk passes through tunnels dug at the beginning of the 20th century. Their pharaonic goal was to create a channel where the Verdon would be diverted in order to supply a power station.
The Couloir Samson brings together several of these tunnels and connects the Point Sublime to the Chalet de La Maline by a path bearing the name of the explorer Edouard-Alfred Martel and his guide, Isidore Blanc, former teacher of the village of Rougon, who are the the first to cross the Grand Canyon du Verdon in 1905.
Round trip itinerary that will take you through the tunnels of the Samson Corridor to the Trescaïre belvedere.
Level: Easy
Duration: 2 hour
Type: Round trip
Length: 2,8 km
Departure / Arrival: Parking Point Sublime, Rougon
Vigilance: Flashlight and warm jacket to cover you in the tunnels
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Édouard-Alfred Martel and the Verdon
Born in 1859, Édouard-Alfred Martel is a pioneer in caving. He explores more than 1 caves and chasms in France and in many other countries despite the rudimentary material of the time! In 500, his descent of the underground river from the abyss of Bramabiau, in the Cévennes, is considered the founding act of modern speleology. Very curious about karst phenomena, he was interested in gorges and canyons.
His greatest success in this area, however, was the first full descent of the Grand Canyon du Verdon, from August 11 to 14, 1905, accompanied in particular by Isidore Blanc, then a teacher in Rougon. The story of this adventure can be found in one of his reference books: La France Ignorée. Among all the difficulties of this exploration, the two intrepid men must carry boats and equipment over the two impassable passages of the Styx and especially the Imbut!