Map of Gourdon

How long does it take to visit Gourdon?

Allow between 1.5 and 2 hours to explore the village. Visiting Gourdon in half a day is easily doable from the French Riviera or Grasse. The village is small—its streets are easy to walk through—but the view from Place Victoria is worth taking the time to enjoy.

Allow a little more time if you plan to visit the castle and its museums. If you’d like to extend your visit with a walk through the Gorges du Loup or to the Saint-Vincent Chapel, plan on a full day. During peak season, crowds in the village can slow down your visit.

Where can I download a map of Gourdon as a PDF?

You can download the map of Gourdon as a PDF directly from this page. Click the “Download Map” button located above, below our interactive map. This will give you a complete map to save on your smartphone or print out before you go.

The map shows the village streets, main points of interest, and parking access points. This is particularly useful if you don’t have an internet connection at higher elevations. Once in the village, cell service can be spotty depending on your carrier.

Where is the Gourdon tourist office located?

The Gourdon tourist office, known as the Tourist Information Office, is located at the edge of the village, 1 Place Victoria. This is precisely where the view of the Mediterranean opens up—you can’t miss it. It is open daily in July and August, and Monday through Saturday the rest of the year, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

The staff will provide you with maps and guide you on walks, museums, and local events. Free guided tours of the village are offered year-round, by reservation. To contact them: +33 (0)4 89 87 73 30.

Where to park in Gourdon?

Parking in Gourdon during the summer season is difficult. The access roads are narrow, tourist traffic is heavy, and parking spots become scarce by mid-morning. It’s best to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to find a spot without stress. All of Gourdon’s parking lots are marked on our interactive map at the top of this page.

The main parking lot is located at the bottom of the village, on the road to Gréolières—it’s the Grand Pré parking lot. A second parking area is available on the way up to the Caussols plateau, on the RD 12. From these two parking lots, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the heart of the village.

What are the must-see sights in Gourdon?

Gourdon’s must-see attractions are concentrated within a very small area. Here are the sites that truly deserve your attention:

• The medieval castle: a 9th-century feudal fortress, open to visitors since 1950. It houses a medieval museum, a museum of decorative arts, and gardens designed by Le Nôtre—the landscape architect of Versailles.

• Place Victoria: the village’s must-see viewpoint, listed as a historic monument in 1940. On a clear day, the panorama stretches 80 km along the coast, from Théoule-sur-Mer to Nice. You can even make out the contours of Corsica.

• Notre-Dame Church: a Romanesque building from the 10th–12th centuries, listed as a Historic Monument. It features a single barrel-vaulted nave, a portal with a triangular pediment, and a font adorned with angel heads.

• Saint-Pons Chapel: a Romanesque chapel at the village entrance, a remnant of a former Lérins priory, featuring frescoes by the Grasse-based painter André Torre.

• Saint-Vincent Chapel: 1 km northwest of the village, formerly associated with a priory. A lovely destination for a walk.

• The Loup Gorges: from the village, the gorge road descends toward the Saut du Loup waterfalls. The Grande Marmite, a natural basin carved by the river, is one of the region’s most impressive natural spectacles.

• Artisan shops: perfumes, soaps, honey, nougat, Florian confections, art glass. La Grande Rue is home to most of the shops.

The Gourdon paragliding site is also one of the best known in the Alpes-Maritimes. Introductory flights allow you to see the French Riviera from the air, above the village.

How to get to Gourdon?

Getting to Gourdon by car remains the most practical option. From Nice, allow about 45 minutes via the D2085 toward Vence, then the D3 toward Gourdon. From Grasse, take the D2085 then the D3—about 20 minutes. The route through the Gorges du Loup, from Tourrettes-sur-Loup, is spectacular but winding.

Gourdon is not directly served by regular public transportation to the hilltop village. The nearest train station is in Grasse, about 15 kilometers away. From Nice or Cannes, you can reach Grasse by train, then take a taxi or rent a car. In summer, check if seasonal shuttles are running from the valley—in some years, special services are set up.

What are the best hotels near Gourdon?

Staying near Gourdon means finding lodging in the neighboring villages, as the hilltop village itself has very limited hotel options. The best-known option in the area is the Auberge des Gorges du Loup in Tourrettes-sur-Loup, at the foot of the road leading up to Gourdon: its renovated rooms offer direct views of the village and the gorges, along with a traditional restaurant and free parking.

For greater comfort, Bar-sur-Loup and Tourrettes-sur-Loup offer several well-maintained bed-and-breakfasts, complete with swimming pools and panoramic sea views. Grasse, 15 km away, offers a wider range of hotels, including the Best Western Elixir for those seeking classic accommodations with air conditioning and parking. From these locations, Gourdon is less than a 20-minute drive away.

Also read to help you plan your stay in Gourdon:

• visiting Gourdon