THE GORGE OF THE \'AR. 397 



the Var which has been drawn off higher up and used 

 to generate power for the electric trams of Nice. At 

 Le Cliiaudan the grandest part of the road commences. 

 Here tlie wide \^ar valle^• narrows into a gorge, through 

 which the torrent, pent up in the narrow bed, rushes 

 violently, 'ilie high road has been made b)' blasting 

 away the rock, the railway going for the most part 

 through tunnels. A\'e walk between high walls of rock 

 whose summits are lost to view. The strata in the 

 Jurassic limestone of the ravine are strangeh" contorted 

 and many coloured. ^Plie torrent has undermined the 

 cliff in many places .so that its bed is not seen from the 

 road. The outline of the rocks varies continualh'. High 

 peaks move past the opening of the valle\ , then one of 

 the fantastic rock ^'illages, like shifting scenes. One 

 more turn in the road and we are completely hemmed in 

 on all sides by walls ol rock. We can see onl\ the 

 blue vault of heaven. The leafless trees of the broad 

 valle}' of the \'ar ceased at the entrance to the gorge 

 where the vegetation consists mainh' of evergreen shrubs. 

 Even in the depths of winter, on sunn\' days, the ravine 

 is worth a \'isit, for these plants do not change their 

 aspect in winter. The IJox, wliich in many places con- 

 ceals the light coloured rocks here with its dark foliage, 

 is uncommon in the local flora. The \'ellow Broom grows 

 where it produces the most striking effect, and the 

 sweet \'iolet covers some of the slopes in such abun- 

 dance that tliey are quite blue. Bej'bnd La Tinee the 

 narrow valley appears to be shut in on all sides b^' mighty 

 cliffs, brightly coloured in red. gre^- and white. A bold 



