Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon

About

Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon is a gorgeous village perched on a hill above the immense turquoise Lake of Sainte-Croix. Not that they knew they'd have prime lakeside real estate when they built it; the valley was only damned up in the 1970s. Green fields were replaced by cool waters and relaxing beaches, all without the crowds of the French Riviera a couple of hours to the south. The village name comes from its Romanesque church that contained a relic of the Cross of Christ, but sadly that church is now underwater. The village itself is full of old French charm, with narrow lanes that are a pleasure to stroll down. The newer main church still dates back to the 16th century and, typically of many Provence villages, there is a castle (now ruined) guarding the settlement.