Gorges de la Mescla, France

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see (very narrow winding streets).

Beyond Bolinette the scenery changes. The white and gray limestone with its huge and often dramatically folded rock strata gradually is replaced by dark porphyry, a uniform brittle volcanic rock, which can also be seen in the Gorges Supérieures du Cians. The harmony of rocks and luxuriant vegetation is very beautiful.

About 21km/13mi after leaving the Route Nationale, the D2565 turns right over the 1,500m/4,923ft high Col St-Martin into the beautiful upland Valley of the Boréon, the starting point of many mountain footpaths. The D2205 continues to follow the main valley to the high mountain region which is popular both in summer and in winter for walking, mountaineering and skiing.

Beyond St-Sauveur (belfry of 1333, altarpiece of 1483) the D30 branches off and winds along amid a gentle alpine landscape, with terraced meadows and deciduous and coniferous forests, through the following small mountain resorts: the village of Roure (16th C. church of St-Laurent with 13th C. belfry) perched boldly on the mountainside; Roubion (alt.1,200m/3,938ft; on the left of the D38 before reaching the village are the 16th C. Chapel of St- Sébastien; wall paintings); and Beuil with a 15th C. belfry, a 17th C. church with interesting paintings and a 16th C. Chapel of the White Penitents with trompe-l'oeil paintings on the facade.