European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 17, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Morton p. Gutbrod is staff writer. T is photos by Ted Rohde if you re planning to vacation the French Riviera this summer on easy Jne Day tour from such resort areas As Nice Cannes and Juan Les pins Wilt take you to one of the least known but most dramatic natural wonders of France the grand Canyon of the Verdon although Only a fraction of the size of Colorado s Canyon its precipitous almost vertical Limestone Cliffs Tasse led by foam ing cascades plunge hundreds of feet Downto the bed of an almost inaccessible Gorge. The Verdon a Turquoise Green Moun Tain torrent that rushes Down from the Southern Alps to meet the Durance River near Alx in Provette is just another pretty watercourse until it passes the town of Castellane on its Westward course. For the next 30 Miles it carves it Way through Rocky almost Barren Highlands cutting a Gorge whose Cliffs Rise a sheer 1.500 fee Tat some Points with the River far below sometimes racing Between wails a scant 15 feet  was not until 1905 that the bed of the Canyon was explored from end to end by the French Caye explorer edouard Martel who is known As the father of  because of its inaccessibility it remained principally a goal for rugged adventurers until 1928. Then the French government constructed a Road Between cos Tel Lane and the Cliff hanging old monastery town of  that opened the area to tourists. For about half its length this Road clings to the Northern rim of the Canyon and provides some breathtaking vistas of the Southern face which rises higher for most of the Way. In 1947, after years of fantastically Haz ardous construction work a Road of the vertiginous Type that the French Call Carniche or Cornice was opened running along the Southern rim. As you wind along its sinuous Way with Mountain Rock on one Side of you and perhaps Blacic bag Tea soaring in the Canyon several Hundred feet below you on the other you will under stand Why it is called la Contich Sublime. The circuit of the Canyon via the North Ern and Southern routes is a Little Over 60 Miles but takes into account that there Are few stretches where you la want or dare to do much better than 30 nvp.h., and y6ul make Many Stop Ito take Pic Tures,.France s grand Canyon is easily accessible. If you re driving to the a Tykiera from Germany or Northern France plan you route via Grenoble and from there South along National 85, the Scenic route Napo Leon if Vou work out yours itinerary for a Forenoon arrival Van caste Luote you can make the Canyon your and Tiffi reach the coast the same Day canoes is Only 50miles South of Castellane. Similarly the Canyon is Ruthin a Day round trip tour of most of the Riviera Holt Day areas especially now that the new autoroute links St. Raphael and Nice just Inland from the old traffic choked Shore line Highway. \ f. V Michelin regional maps 81 or 84,Are use Ful for exploring the Verdert area offs a 1,500 foot drop at some Points from the Canyon Edge to Verdon River.  of Western end of Canyon is convenient  Stop. In $nrthaeotlir1928. The stars and stripes Page 11 t1 -1 14.4 is. Al a