View of the Sainte Croix lake from Aiguines.

The church of Aiguines.

Lavender is very common in the Var department.

Located at the entrance of the Verdon Gorges, the village of Aiguines overlooks the Sainte Croix lake, thus offering a splendid view on the turquoise waters of the lake.

This ancient Celto-Ligurian hillfort is well known for its age-old tradition of wood-turning, that dates from the Middle Ages, and boxwood, renowned for its density and hardness.

The nearby forest of Margès supplied precious timber for centuries to the “cutters” of Aiguines.

View of the Sainte Croix lake from Aiguines.

At an altitude of 820 m, the castle of Aiguines can be seen from very far and represents one of the marvels of the Haut Var (north of the Var department).

The castle is a private residence and visits are not allowed.

About the forest of Aiguines:

The magnificent stands of beech trees are quite remarkable. The forest shelters the rare Neottia, or bird’s-nest orchid, and a unique fern, Jahandiez’ doradilla, a survivor from the Cenozoic Era. To avoid damaging precious plant life, please stay on the trail when you are trekking.

The beautiful fort of Trigance was abandoned till 1960 before being restored successively by two families. The current owners have converted it into a reputed restaurant, which offers breathtaking views of the Provençal landscape for a gastronomic stay in Provence.

The 11th century fort is private and visits are not allowed. However, it is an asset for the village’s economy as tourists feel attracted towards its imposing look.

The fort is only a few kilometres away from the Verdon Gorges!

The Department has a Mediterranean climate, slightly warmer, dryer and sunnier than Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes, but also less sheltered from the wind.

The nearby city of Toulon, in the Var department, has an average of 300 days of sun a year, making it the sunniest city in metropolitan France! In fact, the Var department enjoys an exceptional coastline with many beaches of fine sand and is the second most visited department after Paris. It is also the second most woody department in France.

Toulon is a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Toulon is an important centre for naval construction, fishing, wine making, and the manufacture of aeronautical equipment, armaments, maps, paper, tobacco, printing, shoes, and electronic equipment.

The military port of Toulon is the major naval center on France’s Mediterranean coast, home of the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and its battle group. The French Mediterranean Fleet is based in Toulon.

Toulon’s harbor (picture above)

Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer

Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer is a city located in the Var department and has over 11 200 inhabitants. It is located near Toulon.

Le Castellet (above and below)

Le Castellet is a lovely medieval village perched above the plains of the Var. Arriving on the little road from La Cadière-d’Azur you get a good view of Le Castellet, as the road across the countryside and vineyards circles the village before finally climbing up to the center.

The village retains its fortified look, with sections of the ancient ramparts still there, along with a couple of the old fortified “portes”. The streets are cobblestone and the houses are old and interesting. The castle was last rebuilt in the 15th century, and has an imposing defensive feel about it.

The Paul Ricard race track, (located a few km away from Le Castellet) is world famous. The track developed some of the best French drivers of the time, and hosted the Formula One French Grand Prix on many occasions, the first of which being the 1971 French Grand Prix. It is used nowadays for the international “Bol d’Or” motorcycle race, historic car races and other similar events.

La Madrague is a beautiful city in the Var department.

View of La Ciotat from Madrague