Méouge


The Méouge, is a river in the Rhône-Alpes region of the south of France. It rises in the Drôme near the town of Sederon and crosses into the Hautes-Alpes at Barret-sur-Méouge where it carves the spectacular tourist attraction, the Gorges de la Méouge, through the limestone platform. Near the communities of Chateauneuf-de-Chabre and Antonaves it joins the river Buëch which in turn flows into the Durance and the Rhone.

Gorges de la Méouge

The "Gorges de la Méouge" is a long gorge carved by the Méouge though the mesozoic limestone rock of the Hautes-Alpes in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The lime colored gorge has wild shapes, small sandy beaches, huge polished pebbles, water holes and waterfalls. It is famous for swimming. The medieval bridge of Châteauneuf de Chabre is classified as a historical monument. The gorges are also classified Natural Areas of Ecological Interest, Fauna and Flora whose flora and fauna are protected.

Municipalities and townships crossed

In both departments of Hautes-Alpes and Drôme, the Méouge passes through eleven communities and two cantons. These include : Barret-de-Lioure, Séderon, Vers-sur-Méouge, Eygalayes, Lachau, Ballons, Salérans, Barret-sur-Méouge, Saint-Pierre-Avez, Châteauneuf-de-Chabre, Antonaves.

Tributaries

The Méouge has approximately 30 tributaries :
The Méouge watershed has an area of and . It covers 14 municipalities and between 1,500 and 2,000 residents, mostly living in the municipalities of the Canton of Ribiers.