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Nestled in the shade of the Sainte-Victoire mountain and watered by the river Argens and its affluents, the colourful Provence benefits from wonderful climatic conditions that charmed the Counts of Provence who came to live there.
In addition to large towns like Marseille and Toulon, a number of small villages and their historic buildings can be visited near 'Lou Souleïl'.
Saint-Maximin la sainte Baume (Map : 1) This town played a major role in the history of Christendom. The construction of an enormous basilica consecrated to St Mary Magdalene was initiated by Charles II d'Anjou in 1295 and lasted over 237 years.
The basilica contains, in its Gallo-Roman crypt, the relics of St Mary Magdalene and the sarcophagi of St Maximin, St Marcelle, St Suzanne and St Sidoine.
This historic Gothic building, the largest in Provence, also offers exceptional 18th century organs which were rescued by Lucien Bonaparte during the revolution. This city is renowned for its 13th century old city porch giving onto the medieval jewish quarter and its beautiful arches.
Barjols (Map : 2). The key attractions of Barjols are the 30 fountains of varying sizes and styles and 12 lavoirs of varied and interesting shapes.
Barjols was a center of tanning, with 24 tanneries and 19 mills to drive them. It is at the confluence of several rivers and little streams, which provided the power and the water required. This 'Tivoli de Provence' offers to visitors a beautiful collegial. A ' water house ' with aquariums showing various species of fish from the Var rivers also provides thematic exhibitions.
Brignoles (Map : 3) The Counts of Provence founded their palace here in the 12th century. One can visit the palaces, town houses, fountains and arches which bear witness to a glorious past. One can also visit a museum with a 3rd century sarcophagus discovered in the merovingian chapel of La Gayolle, one of the oldest Gallic Christian historic buildings.
The medieval city of Cotignac (Map : 4) was built in the 6th century against a 87-meters-high and 400-meters-wide tuff rock. It has become famous since the apparition of the Virgin Mary who announced the birth of Louis XIV, 'Roi Soleil'. The St Joseph monastery and Notre Dame des Grâces chapel are also an attraction for many pilgrims and tourists.
Several other villages are worth visiting like Cabasse with its menhirs, dolmens and neolithic caves surrounding the village, Folcalqueiret and the ruins of the biggest medieval fort in the Var (1023), and also Brue-Auriac which has the biggest pigeon house in Europe. |
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