Salles-sur-Verdon submerged by a lake

The village of Salles-sur-Verdon was demolished in early 1974 as part of the construction of Lake Sainte-Croix, a reservoir created by Électricité de France (EDF) to supply irrigation and drinking water to Lower Provence. The lake, covering approximately 2,200 hectares of turquoise water at the exit of the Verdon gorges, was filled beginning in late 1973 and entered service in 1974.

Old village submerged under 40 meters of water

The old village, described as "the richest valley in the Var," was submerged approximately 40 meters below the surface, with only 497 hectares of its original 1,233 hectares remaining above water. The demolition of Salles-sur-Verdon occurred before the complete filling of the dam, and the village was relocated to a new promontory, where it now thrives primarily on tourism.

Documenting the old village’s final days

An amateur filmmaker, René Grosjean, documented the last moments of the old village, and his footage remains in circulation. The new village, conceived before the demolition of the old, was built on a promontory overlooking the lake and is considered the youngest village in France.

Island as a remnant of the past

The island of Costebelle, the only island in the lake and attached to the commune of Salles-sur-Verdon, is a remnant of the fertile valley that once existed beneath the lake. It can only be reached by boat or pedal boat and offers a route combining walking and pedal boat travel, approximately 6.7 kilometers long, taking about 2 hours and 15 minutes with stops.

Memorial and preservation efforts

A memorial and an 11-stage tour were inaugurated on November 12, 2000, to commemorate the submerged village. The bells of the old church have been preserved in the bell tower of the modern church, and the fountain of the old square has been reconstructed identically. Two washhouses in the new village are inspired by those of the old village, and the names of the streets recall places now covered by the lake.

Reservoir project and village relocation

The original project for the reservoir envisioned extending up to the foot of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, but a revision of the final water level reduced the depth of the lake, leaving Salles as the only village really threatened. The three villages initially threatened—Salles, Bauduen, and Sainte-Croix—fought together for six years before the final decision. The hamlet of Fontaine-l'Évêque, attached to Bauduen, was also submerged. EDF had to restore 25 kilometers of road and create two bridges for the new infrastructure.

Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon’s revival

The village of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, on the other hand, experienced a reversal of its historical trajectory. Once on the verge of desertification in the 1960s, it gained new life through the lake and the influx of tourists. The lake's creation also required the relocation of the cemetery and the dismantling of the old village before the arrival of the water. The exact dates of the demolition vary according to local accounts, and the figure of 40 meters of water is an estimate, not an official measurement.