Canyoning in the Verdon

Canyoning is an outdoor activity with its origins in the French and Swiss Alps, where the first explorations of steep gorges date back to the early 20th century. Local mountain guides and mountaineers began descending these canyons using climbing and abseiling techniques to explore previously inaccessible areas. These early explorations laid the foundations for modern canyoning.

Over the decades, the practice developed and became popular in other mountainous regions of the world, becoming a leisure activity enjoyed by many adventurers in search of adrenaline and discovery.

The history of modern canyoning is also closely linked to pioneering figures such as Édouard-Alfred Martel, often regarded as the father of modern speleology. Martel, a French explorer and geologist, devoted much of his life to exploring caves, chasms and canyons across France and other European countries at the turn of the 20th century. His pioneering work in underground mapping and his methodical approach to exploring difficult terrain laid the foundations for many related disciplines, including canyoning. Although Édouard Blanc Martel is not directly associated with canyoning, his legacy of exploration and adventure has inspired many enthusiasts around the world, contributing to the evolution and popularization of canyoning over the decades.