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What to do in and around Cotignac: 7 days in the Var countryside

10/20/2026
La Falaise de Cotignac, "Plus beau village de France" niché au cœur du Var
Listed among the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’, Cotignac is an ideal base for discovering Provence Verte and the Haut-Var. Hilltop villages, wooded hills, rivers and vineyards provide the backdrop to your outings, with historic sites, art and excellent places to eat along the way. Settle in at Lou Calen and let us guide you: we have put together seven full days of ideas for exploring the Var countryside at your own pace, following your interests.

Monday / From waterfalls to villages

Chutes du Caramy : Sites naturels à Carcès
Abbaye du Thoronet
Plat à base de truffe noire au restaurant Chez Bruno à Lorgues
Église Saint-Denis dans le village de Tourtour (Var)
Le musée de la céramique Terra Rossa à Salernes dans le Var
Begin your day at the Caramy waterfalls in Carcès, a breathtaking natural sight. Nearby, Le Thoronet Abbey lies hidden in the forest. This jewel of Cistercian architecture hosts a varied cultural programme throughout the year. For lunch, head to Chez Bruno in Lorgues, a restaurant with one Michelin star, renowned for its devotion to truffles. In the afternoon, discover two distinctive villages of Provence Verte: Tourtour, listed among the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’, and Salernes, the region’s ceramics capital, where the Terra Rossa museum houses a collection of more than 2,000 decorated tiles dating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Tuesday / Cotignac, a village full of life

Visite du Rocher de Cotignac
Vue aérienne de Cotignac et d'une partie du domaine Lou Calen
Focus dans les ruelles de Cotignac
Marché hebdomadaire de Cotignac dans le Var
7-jours-en-provence-verte-haut-var-marche-cotignac-2
Le centre d'art La Falaise à Cotignac - vue de la façade
Start your day by exploring the cave dwellings of the Rocher de Cotignac, a tufa cliff formed by ancient waterfalls now turned to stone. Back in the village, soak up the lively atmosphere of the weekly market (9am–1pm). For lunch, head to Café de L’Union, a small traditional bistro at the top of Cours Gambetta, shaded by centuries-old plane trees. The afternoon is perfect for wandering through Cotignac’s narrow streets, browsing galleries and workshops, and meeting the craftspeople who bring the village to life. For lovers of modern and contemporary art, the current exhibition at La Falaise Art Center offers a fitting continuation.

Wednesday / Heading for the Verdon

Les eaux turquoises du lac de Sainte-Croix
Pont du Galetas marque la jonction entre les eaux turquoise du lac de Sainte-Croix et l'entrée des Gorges du Verdon
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption à Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Beauvoir à Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Les champs de lavande en fleur au plateau de Valensole

Head to Lake Sainte-Croix and the Gorges du Verdon, the largest canyon in Europe, an hour’s drive from Cotignac, towards the Alps of Haute Provence. Once you’ve driven around the lake, visit the Chabassole beach, just a stone’s throw from the famous Galetas bridge that stretches over the entrance to the gorges. Hire an electric boat at Kako Beach, and glide effortlessly over the turquoise waters of the third largest lake in France. After a refined lunch at the Bastide de Moustiers, a Michelin-starred restaurant led by renowned chef Alain Ducasse, visit the stunning village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, truly Provence’s “most beautiful villages of France”. Return to Cotignac by the Valensole plateau, and take in the fabulous rows of lavender fields (in full flower at the beginning of the summer) to complete this beautiful getaway day.

Thursday / From art to the river

Œuvre sculpturale à la Commanderie de Peyrassol
Œuvre sculpturale à la Commanderie de Peyrassol
Œuvre sculpturale à la Commanderie de Peyrassol
Balade en canoë sur l'Argens
At the Commanderie de Peyrassol, art is discovered in a natural setting. Sculptures from the Philippe Austruy collection line the vineyards and woodland paths. Allow 2 hours to explore the estate independently (1 hour 15 minutes by buggy) and 1 hour 30 minutes for a guided tour of the art centre. Then enjoy lunch at Chez Jeannette, a restaurant with one Michelin star, where Benjamin Le Balch celebrates produce from the estate’s organic kitchen garden. In the afternoon, continue your journey with a paddle down the Argens. Head to Natur’Evasion at the Miquelets base for a canoe or kayak trip from Pardigon to Le Thoronet. Tree-lined banks, calm stretches and gentle rapids mark this 9 km route. Allow 3 to 4 hours on the water, with shuttle transfers provided.

Friday / Golf and gastronomy

Golf de Barbaroux dans le Var
Abbaye de La Celle dans le Var
Cascade de Sillans et son bassin turquoise
Bière artisanale servie à la pression au bar d'été de La TUF à Cotignac
Have you discovered Barbaroux Golf, one of Europe’s most prestigious courses? Just a 30-minute drive from Cotignac, this gem stretches across 87 hectares of rolling valleys dotted with pine and oak trees. A beautiful setting for a morning on the fairways! Book a table for lunch at the Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle, where chef Nicolas Pierantoni brings out the region’s rich flavours. Before leaving La Celle, visit its Benedictine abbey, founded in the 11th century. On your way back, take a detour to the majestic Sillans waterfall, before rounding off the day with a craft beer at La TUF or a glass of rosé at Maison Mirabeau.

Saturday / Tasting tour

Dégustations à vélo dans les vignobles de l'arrière-pays varois
Château La Calisse, vue du domaine
Domaine Aspras, vue de la salle de dégustation
An electric bike is arguably the best way to explore the vineyards. Spend the morning discovering some of Provence Verte’s finest wine estates, where the winemakers will be delighted to introduce you to their wines. Continue your culinary discoveries at Picotte in Cotignac, savouring the specialities for which the local cuisine is renowned. While some may prefer a traditional Provençal siesta, others might enjoy a game on Lou Calen’s tennis court or a round of pétanque. And since it’s Saturday evening, there are more flavours to discover at O’Fadoli, the cocktail and spirits bar on Cours Gambetta.

Sunday / Cotignac, a village of faith

Notre-Dame de Grâces à Cotignac - Vue aérienne
Notre-Dame de Grâces à Cotignac - Vue intérieure
Notre-Dame de Grâces à Cotignac - Vue par dessus la toiture
Monastère Saint-Joseph du Bessillon - Vue du sanctuaire
Chapelle Saint-Martin à Cotignac

Cotignac’s sanctuaries offer another way to discover the village. At Notre-Dame de Grâces, the story dates back to 1519, when the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus are said to have appeared to the woodcutter Jean de La Baume. Louis XIV visited with Anne of Austria in 1660 to give thanks for his birth. That same year, Saint Joseph is said to have shown the shepherd Gaspard Ricard a spring, which still flows at the Bessillon monastery. The ‘In the Footsteps of the Holy Family’ trail links these two pilgrimage sites on a 9 km circular route dotted with wayside shrines. Saint-Martin Chapel and the two Saracen towers complete this two-and-a-half-hour walk. Back in the village, settle down at Le Bistrot for Sunday brunch: a chance to recharge and linger a little longer before leaving.

There will still be so much to see and enjoy. Seven days are not enough to discover the wealth of heritage and landscapes in the Var countryside. Rest assured, the guide compiled by our concierge will help you plan your next visits to Provence Verte and the Haut-Var.
Une jeune fille se balade dans les ruelles de Cotignac

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