Le Défilé Panoramique de St Vallier

Zoom in on a remarkable view over the Rhone Valley : the “defile” of Saint-Vallier where the river Rhône meanders along a 400-metre deep gorge dug out 6 million years ago following an earthquake. Best seen from the village of Ozon.

6 million years ago, an earthquake cut off the Mediterranean from the Atlantic Ocean. The lowering of the Mediterranean and the formation of the Alps created an extremely powerful river, which cut the Défilé de Saint Vallier to a depth of 400m. Following a further earthquake, the Mediterranean resumed its course and filled in the Défilé de Saint Vallier.