Less than an hour's drive from the sea, but miles away from the glitz and glamour of the coast. You are no longer in the French Riviera now, but in the heart of the Provence, with its rustic and rural character.
The Provence: undulating hills and vineyards
This area is surrounded by mountains like Gorges du Verdon, Massif des Maures, Sainte-Victorie and Massif de la Sainte Baume. Between these mountains you will find a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills, vineyards, forests and picturesque old villages full of charm.
Famous vineyards
The well-known vineyards 'Côtes de Provence' are located around the Provencal town of Draguignan. This area has been Appèllation d’Origine Controlée (AOC) certified since 1977 and is of great importance for the French wine production. The world-famous light rosé comes from this area and these wines pair particularly well with the Provencal cuisine.
A visit to the vineyards in the Provence
For winetasting, we recommend Château Sainte-Roseline in les Arcs-sur-Argens and Chateau la Martnetten in Lorgues. In these Chateaux you may taste fine French wines, without being obliged to buy. In addition to the rosé, the red and white wines are definitely recommended as well. Two insider tips: go to Chateau de Berne in Lorgues for a culinary treat. When interested in local French wines: go to Les Vignerons de Taradeau in Taradeau.
Local products from the Var
At the inland of the Var, you will find an abundance of local products (du Terroir) like truffles, fruit, vegetables, flowers, honey, thyme, olive oil and many more. It is not without reason that you will find many excellent restaurants in the Provence. The local markets are also a definitely worth a visit.
The medieval Lorgues
Lorgues is pretty popular among Dutch and Belgian tourists. Lorgues is a typical Provencal market town with a medieval centre and it is surrounded with a beautiful landscape with oak trees, olive trees and vineyards. We recommend you to visit the local markets or Restaurant Bruno for delicious truffles.
Charming villages in the Provence
Close by, you will find many picturesque, medieval villages such as Carcés, Taradeau, Vidauban, St Antonin du Var, Les-Arcs-Sur-Argens and the charming village of Flayosc. In the hinterland of the Var, you can discover the cultural heritage of the Provence, like medieval churches, mills, fountains and lovely small villages. Two insider tips: L’Oustaou and La Salle a Manger are good restaurants near Flayosc. Surrounded by purple lavender fields, you can find the famous Abbey of Thoronet. This very old monastery from 1146 is very well preserved because of its relatively remote location. Between mid-June and mid-August the lavender fields colour up deep blue and violet, which will give a beautiful sight!
Hiking, biking or horseback riding in the Provence
The region of Draguignan is perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding, for example in La Motte, around the waterfall Saut de Capelan, and of course De Gorges Du Verdon, which is really fantastic for hiking and climbing. For fishing and canoeing you can go to Le Muy and Vidauban. For more information and other trails please go to the local Bureau de Tourisme.
Our villa's in Pays Varois around Draguignan