Campsite in Verdon » Cities to visit » Tourisme à Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon

Visiting Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon

Where is Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon located?

On the western shore of the large Lake Sainte-Croix, in the heart of a regional natural park in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the Provençal village of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon stretches between 440 and 670 meters above sea level, not far from our campsite near Lake Sainte-Croix.
The village center overlooks the lake from an altitude of around 500 meters. Sainte-Croix lies close to other renowned destinations in the Gorges du Verdon,
such as Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Les-Salles-sur-Verdon, La Palud-sur-Verdon,
Gréoux-les-Bains and Bauduen, as well as Lake Esparron and Lake Quinson.
At the gateway to the Baudinard gorges, the territory of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon also occupies the eastern end of the Valensole Plateau.

What to do in Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon?

  • At the exit of the gorges, the picturesque Provençal Verdon village of Sainte-Croix dominates the largest lake in the Verdon from its promontory.
  • The 16th-century village center will charm you with its flower-filled or shaded squares, old houses and breathtaking viewpoints.
  • On the lakeside, family-friendly beaches are also a meeting place for water sports enthusiasts, with many activities available. Be sure to discover in Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon the Renaissance parish church, the picturesque village houses, its charming narrow streets and the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions. This is a great opportunity to learn about the history of the Verdon region, local culture and daily life in past centuries.
  • Numerous excursions and hikes start from Sainte-Croix, along the lake shores or towards the Gorges du Verdon, as well as on the Valensole Plateau with its famous lavender fields stretching as far as the eye can see.
  • Lively and vibrant, the village celebrates traditional festivals not to be missed, such as the Saint-Sauveur festival in August or the Sainte-Croix festival in mid-September.
  • Enjoy outdoor walks along trails crossing the Luberon, the Provençal hills, the Lower Gorges of the Verdon, or simply visit the Gorges du Verdon.
Que faire à Sainte Croix du Verdon

Village on the shores of Lake Sainte-Croix

In the Middle Ages, the village of
Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon
was located at the bottom of the valley. Relocated to higher ground during the 16th century, the historic village center was not submerged when Lake Sainte-Croix was created in the 1970s, unlike the remains of the medieval village that had been abandoned for centuries.

Sainte-Croix has therefore preserved its authentic, picturesque village character and its old houses, while also benefiting from the extraordinary appeal of the waters of the largest lake in the Verdon. A stunning panorama, idyllic beaches and a wide range of water and nautical activities are now part of everyday life in Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.

Village au bord du lac de Sainte-Croix

Lavender landscapes

An emblem of Provence, lavender spreads its bluish hues and diffuses its fragrance across the entire Valensole Plateau.
Used around the Mediterranean since antiquity and distilled in large quantities from the 16th century onwards, lavender entered the world of fine perfumery in the 19th century.
A noble and local product, essential oil of lavender from Haute-Provence is now protected by an AOC designation.
At the eastern edge of the Valensole Plateau, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon is an ideal starting point to discover lavender cultivation, visit a distillery and enjoy the unique landscapes created by the fields during the flowering season.

Verdon lavender fields

Restaurants in Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon

  • Les Terrasses du Lac:
    in an exceptional setting overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Sainte-Croix, the restaurant Les Terrasses du Lac invites you to sit on one of its two panoramic terraces or in one of its dining rooms, to enjoy pizzas and traditional dishes available à la carte or as set menus.
  • Le Comptoir:
    a restaurant and ice-cream parlor with a lovely terrace facing the lake. Le Comptoir is open from March to November and offers a menu of Provençal dishes, market-fresh fish, salads and mussels with fries.
  • L’Actuel:
    whether indoors or on its terrace with lake views, L’Actuel invites you to enjoy Mediterranean and Provençal cuisine, highlighting local products and freshwater fish through artistic and colorful presentations.
  • La Garrigue:
    a generous, family-friendly address offering pizzas, salads and meat dishes, to be enjoyed on its terrace with a guinguette-style atmosphere or in its warm dining room. Pizzas and dishes are also available to take away.
  • La Taverne du Lac:
    located on Rue des Fenières, La Taverne du Lac is an ideal place, facing the lake, to share cheese and charcuterie boards over a Belgian beer. A popular meeting spot appreciated for its setting and friendly atmosphere.

Mis à jour le

Our customers' opinions
Défilez horizontalement

« Excellent campsite!
Family, calm and quality. In addition, it is a 15-minute walk from the city centre and a half-hour drive from the activities of the Gorges du Verdon. The managers are friendly and very welcoming. They bend over backwards to help campers. For example, I rented a barbecue twice and the manager dropped it off and systematically picked it up at my location without asking for anything. The animation team is at its best, my partner loved aquafun and my son really enjoyed the night treasure hunt. We had some great fried mussels. To put it simply, I had already eaten some of the less good ones elsewhere, but I don't remember tasting any better ones. In short... I recommend L'Oasis du Verdon and it is with great pleasure that I will return with my family! »
Amir, Carbonne (31)

★★★★★

«Natura VIP
A very quiet and clean campsite with a beautiful swimming pool and enough to let the children cycle quietly on the whole site. The owners are very kind and always available. Natura VIP accommodation at the top and very relaxing. I really recommend this campsite for a great time with the family! »
Baptiste, Néoules (83)

★★★★★

« A very pleasant, quiet and family campsite offering quality entertainment that encourages conviviality between holidaymakers. The owners and the animators are attentive to the well-being of the residents and ensure that the rules of good conduct are respected. The mobile home was impeccable when we arrived. The proximity of the village is particularly appreciable (we used to walk to the market) and the various points of interest in the region are only a few kilometres away. Note: a varied catering service offering excellent cuisine. We'll come back next year! »
Ninon, Pullay (27)

★★★★★

« Very well. A quality campsite, well located in the Verdon, near the village of AUPS. Smiling and involved owners »
Sandrine, Mignaloux-Beauvoir (86)

★★★★
Campsite l'Oasis du Verdon
Privacy policy

This site uses cookies. Browsing the website means you acknowledge and accept our privacy policy as well as the use of third-party cookies intended to provide you with the best possible website experience.