The village of Esparron de Verdon is located in the hills just over an hour's drive from the coast at Marseilles, north of Aix-en-Provence. It is nestled in a protected valley on the Plateau of Velensole and set on the bank and shores of the Verdon River which is damned at this point making the Lac d'Esparron. It is a land of valleys and rugged hills; of high plateaux and rivers fed from the snow melt of the Alps. Wild rosemary, thyme and lavender thrive on the hillsides, and rows upon rows of domestic lavender fill the air with a heady scent. The honey from the lavender is a local specialty. This is the land of goat cheeses, truffles (yes, truffles!), trout, lamb and rabbit. Olive oil mills abound and simple country rose wines refresh. Many rivers have man made lakes for drinking water and double as water sport Meccas.

Esparron is to be found in the newly created Parc Naturel du Verdon and you will find some of the most beautiful countryside in Provence around the village. Just half an hour away, there are the stunning views of the Gorges du Verdon (Grand Canyon of France) as the Verdon River rushes on its journey from Castellane to join with the Durance. North, the twisting roads smooth out as the hills loose their crags and start to roll gently into open fields and farm land. East and North toward Grenoble, the Alps offer skiing only a few hours away. West toward Avignon lies the region of the Popes and the delta lands of the Carmargue.

This is a paradise for people who like to explore, walk and hike, canoe, sail, para-sail, ride horses, play golf, swim, glide, eat, shop (the factory and outlet store of l'Occitaine is in Manosque!), fishing, or just reading a book in the shade, sun-bathing on the shores of the lake or having a drink in a café on the place.

Situated as Esparron is, close to the Low Alps, the nights even in the summer usually stay cool aided by the lake just a few steps away. The breezes come off the Alps and are fresh and clear. The tile floors and well insulated walls of the house help keep it that way. A quick dip in the lake during the heat of the day is refreshing and just before dinner it regenerates the weary traveler for a restful sleep. In winter the region sleeps. The holiday makers are gone. The small villages return to their soporific selves. The real Provence reasserts itself. Walks around the lake are beautiful and solitary.

The villages all around have colorful outdoor markets filled with local and exotic foods, fresh and cooked, pizza, spit roasting chickens, frest and aged goat cheeses, herbs and spices and crusty, country breads. The best, in our opionion, is the Wednesday and Saturday market in Riez. Manosque has an excellent one and Aix-en-Provence has one of the all time markets.