Les Gorges de la Nesque     

After the Gorges du Verdon, the Gorges de la Nesque are the next most spectacular in Provence, one of the most beautiful hydro geological examples of the Midi.  An imposing and wild canyon, with fantastic rocks which can be admired from the road (D.942 from Sault to Carpentras) and punctuated by tunnels and view-points, such as Castelleras looking onto the majestic “Rocher du Cire”.

Visitors will be lucky enough to discover the Saint Michel de Anesca (de la Nesque) Chapel at the bottom of the Gorges de la Nesque. It borders the mountain river and is positioned underneath an overhanging rock, above which lie two other shelters occupied during the prehistoric era.  The Chapel itself is a modest building, with an enthralling location and history, dating back to the XIIth century.  Inside is preserved a Roman-Gallic voting column which was used in the Middle Ages to support the altar.  

The chapel was entirely restored in 1643, as witnessed by the engraved inscription on the central stone above the arched entrance door.  

This exceptional place of pilgrimage, still used in the XIXth century (May 8 and September 29), can be reached by four paths: the first path starts in MONIEUX, and from the Malaval lake onwards follows one or other bank of the Torrent; the second, a more direct route, is accessed from the R.D 942 on the left when coming from MONIEUX, 700 m before arriving at the Castelleras view-point; the third path starts at the Castelleras view-point which overlooks the cave which bears its name; the starting point (or return) of the fourth is near the second tunnel.

During 1866, well before the opening of the road which overlooks this site, Frederic MISTRAL discovered the Gorges de la Nesque and the Rocher du Cire’s wild bees, where he endangered his life gathering golden honey combs.

The adventures of his climbing expeditions on the Rocher du Cire, recounted in Calendal, cantos VII, constitutes one of the climaxes of this epic poem of twelve songs, in which the author exalts both maritime and mountainous Provence.

The slab dedicated to Frederic MISTRAL, at the view-point of Castelleras overlooking the Rocher du Cire dominating one of the most beautiful wild sites of Provence, was erected by the Sault Tourist office and was unveiled on September 11, 1966.

Below is an extract from a Provencal calendal written by the poet who, more than a century ago, dedicated this site as one of the most remarkable in Provence
 

Calendal, cantos VII:
"Aquelo Nesco s'encafourno
Dins uno coumbo arèbro e soumo ;
E vèn piéi un moumen que la roco subran
S'enarco amount qu'es pas de dire ...
Vous parle dou Roucas dou Cire
Ni cat, ni cabro, ni satire,
N'en responde segur, jamai l'escalaran !"

"This Nesque is engulfed in a
gloomy and jagged gorge;
Suddenly, abruptly,
as though appearing out of nowhere,
The Rocher du Cire
Neither cat nor goat, nor satyr,
Will ever dare to climb it