Tourist Attractions & Monuments en Provence

The château looks more like a bourgeois residence than a real castle. In fact, it dates from the first half of the 19th century. Its predecessor, that of the Vassadel family, was destroyed during the French Revolution. A few 16th-century features remain, such as a tower pierced by fire hydrants and a room vaulted with a pointed arch. The lords of Vacqueras were already identified as the Vassadel family in 1338. More than 300 years of presence, even if in recent years it was the viguier who administered the small community. Unfortunately, this castle cannot be visited.

As part of the renovation of the city entrances and the rehabilitation of the old centre, the Villeneuvoise municipality wished to give a new life to the first parish church of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon. It is reborn today and finds its public vocation in the reception media and library as well as a bakery-restaurant-tea restaurant on the ground floor; Pôle Emploi offices accessible to the public on the ^first floor, the administrative part on the 2nd floor. The project, which in order to combine the demands of modernization and the constraints of the past, has had to face many challenges (respect the existing fold of the church, make the exterior facades their original appearance…) has brilliantly managed to combine heritage and modernity. Thus, Saint-Pons is fully successful in its entry into the st century by providing answers in terms of jobs, culture and trade. Just reward: The municipality was distinguished at the national level, received "Heritage Ribbons" in 2012, a prize awarded for the development of built heritage.

The Tournoux fortress is an important work composed of 6 forts ranging from 1,290 m altitude for the Esplanade Pellegrin to 2,000 m for the Serre-de-l'Aut. The Caures battery, which is open to visitors, is located at 1,800 m. Built between 1839 and 1866, these fortifications of the Maginot line are located on the border of the communes of Condamine-Châtelard and Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye. They defended the entrance to the upper Ubaye valley from the Arche pass. It should be noted that the forest track of about 2 km leading to it is not very passable

This ornithological reserve, located in the heart of Haute-Provence, is an exceptional site, consisting of three artificial wetlands located on the territories of the neighbouring communes of Château-Arnoux - Saint-Auban, Volonne, l'Escale, Malijai and les Mées. Depending on the time of year, 140 different species of birds can be observed there. This reserve concentrates more than 56% of the bird species present in the department, as well as more than 56% of the breeding bird species identified as threatened in the PACA region. These birds are often hidden in the tangle of reedbeds, or hidden in the wild copses bordering the wetlands and, sometimes, even well camouflaged in the gravel banks of the Durance.

Other species, less shy, can be admired on the surface of the lake. The Château-Arnoux tourist office offers free leaflets describing an eco-tour entitled "from the Farm to the Chapel, along the water" with the positioning of the 12 sites, on a path around the lake of about 10 kilometres, which have been developed in an "Ecobalade application", available on smartphones (and very useful for discovering other beautiful walks!). Plants, trees, insects, mammals, reptiles and even molluscs present on the path are described for walkers. To download directly on : www.ecobalade.fr/balade/balade-chateau-arnoux-04. Exceptional!

The museum is settled in the chapel of Pénitents-Blancs of the 17th century and it can be interesting to visit it in family because it contains an incredible number of old tools, pots, archaeological relics (fossils, cut flint and coins). It's a bit of a tote in the cabinet of curiosities way but it is also where its charm lays. And do not forget to look up to admire the frescoes in the chapel.

The Var is one of the few French departments to have a Natural History Museum dedicated to the development of its natural heritage. It allows us to discover in its permanent exhibitions the natural Riches of Toulon and Var through the various disciplines that make up the Earth and Life Sciences. The challenge is to raise public awareness of the diversity of spécimens specimens (27 000 insects listed), herpétologie (61 species) and mammologie (of the 250 terrestrial mammals represented, 70 are present in Var). In its collections, the museum has 978 species of birds, many of which are present in this department which is among the richest in France (167 breeding bird species). With a palette of about 2500 plants, the flora of Var is also one of the most notable in France. The museum also gathers windows dedicated to Prehistory, mineralogy, ethnology or paleontology, allowing the observation of a skeleton of ptérosaure, fossils and remarkable agrarian tools.

With its mild climate, the Var invite you all year to discover its natural and cultural heritage through a variety of sites. Guided nature walks, discovery of the land with farmers, discovery of crafts, guided tours in the heart of the cities and villages, everyone will be happy! Le Pass Sites is an invitation to discover without moderation this heritage with 28 cultural sites in this beautiful Var region, and at affordable rates! You can immediately log on to the website: www.visitvar.fr/pass-sites

Fernando is a mountain guide who will take you on a journey to discover the heritage of Porquerolles. After a picnic pause, enjoy a long hike along the coast. Departures possible by boat from Toulon. Register at the Tourism Office in Toulon or in Hyères-les-Palmiers.

If you want to visit the harbour of Toulon, discover this catamaran (recognizable by its yellow colour) with 196 seats, an upper deck that offers a panoramic view to enjoy the beautiful scenery. For your information, strollers and manual wheelchairs are accepted.

Built between 1880 and 1887, this museum offers ancient and modern art collections on the theme of Provence from the 17th to the 20th century, contemporary and photographic. The temporary exhibitions are taking turns and they differ from one another, the museum gathers some parts of the 17th-century Italian School, the series of portraits of the 18th and 19th centuries French School, as well as the 19th-century French Landscape School, which is one of the major themes of the collection.

In the south of Armes square, this 400 meter long building, designed by Vauban, was originally used in the manufacture of cordage of sailing ships. This length was necessary to weave together the ropes of sailing ships strand by strand, rolled up on huge drums. This place had two levels of workshops. Inside the rope factory, the vaults supported by two rows of square stone pillars can be discovered in the Service Historique de la Défense library, the only public place of rope-making. The door of the facade of the rope making factory closed the former Jesuit College.

The toulonnaise region is full of marked trails where you can randonner in a wild nature. This body, one of the oldest hiking associations in the region, has a whole bank of excursions and walks of all kinds in all kinds of landscapes and paths of various difficulties. The association also offers programmes for climbing, mountaineering, alpine hiking and skiing.

Children will discover- with nets and with magnifying glasses - flowers, butterflies and other beasties that inhabit the slopes of Bau Four Aures. Wearing sneakers, carrying snack and bottle of water in the bag, the little explorers and their parents are willing to climb the hill! Nature awakens so wake up, your kids! Required: an accompanying parent for children up to 3 years old. More to that, an educational outing is available from 5 years old, and butterfly nets, magnifying glasses and jars are provided.

Puget Square, where the fountain of the Three Dolphins - the works of the Cuvée sculptor - is so luxuriant and covered with foam and where even a laurel, a néflier and a fig tree have elected, that you have trouble guessing the famous dolphins, so they are covered by their green clothes. Saint Vincent Square and its th century fountain. The place for Oil and the house of Heads, decorated with twenty-seven faces with different expressions. On Raimu Square, a set of bronze statues represents the famous part of Caesar Pagnol's cards with Raimu in his own role.

A few steps from the port, this neoclassical church was completed on the eve of the Revolution. For the little history, the city of Toulon had more than 20 000 souls in the early th century. In 1700, Bishop de Chalucet decided to build a new church to serve the western part of the city. The church dedicated to Saint-Louis was built on the site of the Capuchin Convent, between the Place de'and rue Larmodieu. The work started in 1710 and completed in 1788. The church endured many tribulations during history as events preventing its construction from succeeding (plague, cold, invasions, etc.), and damage with the bombs of the Second World War. Discover a magnificent dome to lanternon above the altar. Choirs and concerts take place at certain times; find out.

You can access it from the rue Vincent-Courdouan and rue Garibaldi. Porte d'Italie on place Armand-Vallé is the last vestige, alongside the ramparts, the Lices neighbourhood and the fortification of the city. It was opened in Italy in 1791 according to the design of Vauban, and the ramparts on which it is registered correspond to its outline in 1589, known as Henri IV's. From there, the young General Bonaparte left to take command of the Army of Italy in 1796. The rue Vincent Courdouan like rue Garibaldi, leads to the Porte d'Italie.

Go back in time and immerse yourself in the heart of a dense maritime and historical past ... In the old neighbourhood of Vieille ville, you will discover the Provencal architectural heritage and picturesque streets, the history of Telo Martius, now Port Royal after the annexation of the Provence to the kingdom of France, and now the first military port of our country. This tour will lead you into a maze of alleys and secret plots ... Toulon, daughter of the Navy, will surprise you with some episodes of its history!

Night walk "under the moon and the stars," discovery of the Tourravelle and Croupatier massifs (among others), hiking accessible to visually impaired and disabled ... Guided and supervised walks entitled "little explorers" are also available for children.