Point Sublime is the viewpoint where the Verdon Gorge opens its mouth. Standing on the rail, you look down some two hundred and fifty metres into a narrow slot where the river runs a vivid green between pale cliffs, with the walls closing in toward the Couloir Samson, the first real pinch in the canyon. Édouard-Alfred Martel, the French explorer who first mapped the gorge in 1905, is credited with naming the spot, and no one has since suggested a better word for it.
The viewpoint lies a few kilometres west of Rougon on the D952, with a parking area, a small café in season and a stall or two selling postcards and local honey. A trail leads down from here to the river for those with the legs and the time, and from the viewpoint you can also see where walkers on the famous Sentier Martel finish a long day on the cliffs. The path is not for the unprepared, so unless you are properly equipped, simply enjoy the view and watch the rock climbers on the far wall, tiny figures on a vertical world.
The riding to Point Sublime from either direction is enjoyable, with the gorge barely visible through the trees and the road dipping and rising in gentle bends. It is not as tight as the Route des Crêtes, and that makes it a more relaxed ride, with room to look around. The surface is generally good, though in summer traffic can be very slow behind campervans, so patience is part of the equipment. Early morning offers the best light, when the sun hits the far wall and turns the limestone gold. Afternoon haze can flatten the view.
The limestone cliffs here are home to peregrine falcons, choughs and, in the summer, large soaring vultures, and the river below is a favourite of kayakers when water levels allow. Fuel is not available at the viewpoint, so fill up in Castellane or Draguignan beforehand, and bring water, as the heat in July and August can be severe. After the viewpoint, you can continue to La Palud-sur-Verdon, where food and drink are plentiful and the village is a good base for exploring.