Creating memories
Every season, Lou Calen transforms into a true hub of discovery. In the stunning cliff-side setting of Cotignac, a delightful collection of visual artists, writers, musicians, chefs, and wellness practitioners come together to share their expertise and offer visitors exceptional experiences. There are workshops, concerts, exhibitions, literary events, and gastronomy events: each moment can become a sensory journey to discovery, shaped by the authentic soul of Provence and the unique energy of those who guide it.
Upcoming workshops & events
From 1 Jan. To 31 Dec.
The smell of warm croissants, the sizzle of flame-grilled meats, the crack of a sea bream’s salt crust… Every Sunday, Le Bistrot’s flavoursome cooking takes on the feel of a feast, with a generous buffet bringing together local produce and fresh culinary inspiration.
Location:
Day :
Sunday
Hours :
11 am à 3 pm
Price:
From 56€
Booking:
Recommended
From 13 Feb. To 31 Oct.
Every Saturday lunchtime, lobster takes centre stage. Hot or cold, simmered, sautéed or flame-grilled, Benoit Witz cooks it in line with the kitchen garden and market. A four-course set menu, renewed weekly, ending with creations from our pastry chef.
Location:
Day :
Saturday
Hours :
12 pm to 2 pm
Price:
85€ (excluding drinks)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
From 6 Oct. To 17 Oct.
For Mental Health Awareness Weeks, the exhibition brings together art by patient artists at the Atelier d’Art of the Établissement de Psychiatrie du Var, artists working with them and contemporary artists, alongside works from the Atelier’s archives and the Centre d’art La Falaise collection.
Location:
Days :
Form Tuesday to Saturday
Hours :
10 am - 12:30 pm / 2:30 pm - 6 pm
Price:
4€
Free access
Friday 16 October
To mark the Vignobles en Scène festival, wine takes a playful turn in cocktails. Alongside Thomas, our mixologist, follow the Spritz through time, lifted by Prosecco bubbles, then create Negroni variations by playing with the aromas of vermouth. A different way to appreciate wine’s nuances.
Friday 16 October
To mark the Vignobles en Scène festival, Jardin Secret welcomes Clos de Caille, a family-run, certified organic estate in Entrecasteaux. Benoît Witz has created a four-course menu centred on autumn produce, paired with three wines introduced at the table by Guillaume Galliano.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
105€ (wine pairings included)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Saturday 17 October
To mark the Vignobles en Scène festival, wine takes a playful turn in cocktails. Alongside Thomas, our mixologist, follow the Spritz through time, lifted by Prosecco bubbles, then create Negroni variations by playing with the aromas of vermouth. A different way to appreciate wine’s nuances.
Sunday 18 October
Are you interested in learning about wild plants? Vera Schütz, a native of the country, takes you on a tour of Lou Calen’s gardens to discover Provençal plants and their forgotten virtues. After studying phytotherapy and herbalism, she shares all her knowledge about wild plants.
Sunday 25 October
Guided by Mathieu Segret, you will painstakingly sculpt a vase, scrape by scrape, using a kiridashi, a traditional Japanese knife. You will learn different sculpting gestures and leave with your wood creation as well as with the tools needed to carve wood at home should you wish to.
Location:
Schedule :
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Price:
95€ (material provided)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Sunday 25 October
Lou Calen joins in the Cotignac Quince Festival! The village’s signature fruit features on Le Bistrot’s brunch buffet and in a new cocktail at O’Fadoli. Market, competitions, parade, concert… An autumn Sunday just as we like it, with good food and good cheer.
Location:
O'Fadoli :
11h - 14h / 17h - 22h
Bistrot de Lou Calen :
11h - 15h
Price:
Brunch from 56€
Booking:
Recommended at Le Bistrot
Sunday 1 November
A Sunday to get moving and enjoy good food: once a month, former Olympic athlete Fabé Dia guides you through a Pilates session designed to strengthen your body and ease tension. Then it’s time for Le Bistrot’s generous buffet, to savour at your own pace.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
From 6 Nov. To 8 Nov.
Take three days and spark your inner transformation. That is the promise of this autumn retreat, which combines sound therapy, Qi Gong, and breathwork to guide you towards the release of limiting patterns. A healthy vegetarian diet will support this process.
Friday 13 November
Night has fallen over Cotignac. From Cours Gambetta, Lou Calen’s Verrière glows in the candlelight. The piano awaits the talented José Roland Koffi for a recital devoted to film music. A magical evening is about to unfold, bringing together art and gastronomy.
Location:
Schedule :
Concert at 7pm, followed by dinner
Price:
75€ (concert + 3-course menu, excluding drinks)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
From 1 Dec. To 28 Feb.
The Canut family has been growing black truffles on their farm in Aups. Every winter Patrick and his daughter Lisa wander through their oak plantation, guided by their dogs, to harvest the truffle. Take part in the art of truffle hunting, before treating yourself to tasting your finds!
Location:
Aups
Days :
Saturday to Tuesday
Hours :
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Price:
40€/adult, 25€/child, free/under 12s
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Sunday 6 December
A Sunday to get moving and enjoy good food: once a month, former Olympic athlete Fabé Dia guides you through a Pilates session designed to strengthen your body and ease tension. Then it’s time for Le Bistrot’s generous buffet, to savour at your own pace.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Thursday 24 December
Le Bistrot puts on its festive finery for a cosy Christmas Eve dinner, in the spirit of a family feast. Chef Yvan Franceschi prepares a generous, indulgent menu: from the sea, Mediterranean sea bass and lobster Wellington; from the land, roast venison with earthy woodland flavours.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
95€ (4-course menu, 1 excluding drinks)
Booking:
Recommended
Friday 25 December
Santa Claus has been, and now it’s time to indulge. At Le Bistrot, family and friends gather to share this special moment. Chef Yvan Franceschi puts scallops, sole and capon at the heart of a generous menu, ending with the refreshing flavours of citrus from Provence.
Location:
Schedule :
12 pm to 2 pm
Price:
100€ (4-course menu, 1 excluding drinks)
Booking:
Recommended
Friday 25 December
On the evening of the 25th, Christmas continues at Le Bistrot with a feast of a buffet. Christmas jumpers are out in force: a complimentary glass of sparkling rosé awaits anyone wearing one! An evening full of joy and colour, like one last gift tucked under the tree.
Location:
Schedule :
7 pm to 9:30 pm
Price:
50€ (excluding drinks)
Booking:
Recommended
Thursday 31 December
Champagne sparkles in the Glass Room to open the final evening of the year, before dinner at Le Bistrot with an exceptional menu created by Benoît Witz and Yvan Franceschi. The party then moves to the dance floor, where the DJ keeps us dancing until 3 am as we ring in 2027.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
160€ (aperitif, dinner and dancing)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Friday 1 January
On 1 January, we gather at Le Bistrot for the very first brunch of the year. Sweet and savoury buffets bring together exceptional produce and festive dishes created by chefs Benoît Witz and Yvan Franceschi. The magic of New Year’s Eve continues around the table, in good company.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 3 pm
Price:
70€ (including hot drinks and fruit juices)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Friday 1 January
On the first evening of the year, we raise a glass at Le Bistrot, Italian style! Antipasti to nibble on, al dente pasta, traditional dishes and the chef’s creations make up a buffet that tempts you to try it all. Good food and good company keep the festivities going. Buon anno a tutti!
Location:
Schedule :
7 pm to 9:30 pm
Price:
50€ (excluding drinks)
Booking:
Recommended
Sunday 10 January
A Sunday to get moving and enjoy good food: once a month, former Olympic athlete Fabé Dia guides you through a Pilates session designed to strengthen your body and ease tension. Then it’s time for Le Bistrot’s generous buffet, to savour at your own pace.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Sunday 7 February
A Sunday to get moving and enjoy good food: once a month, former Olympic athlete Fabé Dia guides you through a Pilates session designed to strengthen your body and ease tension. Then it’s time for Le Bistrot’s generous buffet, to savour at your own pace.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Sunday 7 March
A Sunday to get moving and enjoy good food: once a month, former Olympic athlete Fabé Dia guides you through a Pilates session designed to strengthen your body and ease tension. Then it’s time for Le Bistrot’s generous buffet, to savour at your own pace.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Sunday 4 April
A Sunday to get moving and enjoy good food: once a month, former Olympic athlete Fabé Dia guides you through a Pilates session designed to strengthen your body and ease tension. Then it’s time for Le Bistrot’s generous buffet, to savour at your own pace.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Past workshops & events
Sunday 11 October
Therapist based in Correns, Oriane Mutabazi invites you to immerse yourself in a sound bath using musical instruments and the voice. This will be followed by mantra chanting which will establish and extend the benefits of deep relaxation throughout your being.
Saturday 10 October
Spiral basket-weaving craft is an ancestral technique which countryfolk have used for centuries here, in Provence, and made famous now. Julia Lebouc shares her artisanal know-how through the creation of a “secret box” basket made from wild straw.
Location:
Lou Calen
Schedule :
9 am to 1 pm
Price:
65€ (material provided)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Thursday 1 October
Hailing from Lorgues, Leszam blend guitar, vocals and bass, at the crossroads of organic and electric sounds. Moving freely across eras and styles, their repertoire embraces pop, folk, reggae, rock, rap and retro jazz, sung in French and English, with influences from near and far.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
10€ (entry + 1 drink : wine, beer or soft)
Booking:
Recommended
Sunday 27 September
Mathieu Segret invites you to practice mindfulness. You will use wood carving as a means of relaxation and liberation. Each gesture, each sculpted form will nourish your relationship with yourself and nature. Your work will bear the imprint of this inner journey.
Location:
Schedule :
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Price:
95€ (material provided)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Thursday 24 September
The Space Cowboys passionately revisit the great funk-rock classics of recent decades, from Prince to Bruno Mars, with stops at Jackson, Madonna, and many more. A guitar-vocals and percussion-synth duo delivering a festive musical journey that makes you want to dance.
Location:
Schedule :
From 8 pm
Price:
10€ (entry + 1 drink : wine, 25cl beer or soft drink)
Booking:
Recommended
Monday 21 September
Who will be named Cotignac’s best mixologist? For the inaugural Cotignac Cocktail Challenge, Lou Calen is challenging professional bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts alike to reinvent pastis or absinthe. To enter, send us your recipe by 19 September.
Saturday 19 September
Provence is an inexhaustible source of creativity, where Gilles Dugenet invites you to dive in and find your inspiration. Using simple drawing and painting techniques, the artist will encourage you to create a series of small drawings and paintings in a sketchbook, that can be cherished long.
Location:
Schedule :
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Price:
60€ (material provided)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Saturday 19 September
For their second four-hands dinner, Benoît Witz and Théo Sanchez continue to explore the many facets of plant life. Leaves, flowers, seeds, branches and fruits picked at different stages of ripeness become the ingredients of a cuisine where fermentation reveals unexpected new flavours.
Location:
Schedule :
Please arrive at 7:30 pm
Price:
120€ (5-course) – Wine pairing: 30€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Thursday 17 September
Echo brings together a soulful voice and piano with a repertoire spanning jazz, soul and pop. The duo takes to the terrace of La TUF’s summer bar for an intimate live performance, where you can enjoy the music up close to the artists.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
10€ (entry + 1 drink : wine, beer or soft)
Booking:
Recommended
Saturday 12 September
Spiral basket-weaving craft is an ancestral technique which countryfolk have used for centuries here, in Provence, and made famous now. Julia Lebouc shares her artisanal know-how through the creation of a “secret box” basket made from wild straw.
Location:
Lou Calen
Schedule :
9 am to 1 pm
Price:
65€ (material provided)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Thursday 10 September
When voice meets guitar and the clarinet lends its breath, Fafa Carioca Trio creates a new Brazilian interlude. A three-way conversation between kindred musicians, where melodies answer and intertwine through reimagined covers and original compositions.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
10€ (entry + 1 drink : wine, beer or soft)
Booking:
Recommended
Wednesday 9 September
Step behind the bar with Thomas, our mixologist, and explore two cocktails with plenty of character: James Bond’s iconic Dry Martini in several guises, and a Moscow Mule made with ginger beer prepared in-house. Shaker in hand, it’s your turn to mix… and taste!
Saturday 5 September
The artist Sandra Dugenet models, sculpts and engraves using earth, stone or wood. While she allows herself to be guided by the material, she inspired by human beings and their philosophy. During this workshop, you will learn the fundamental principles and techniques of sculpture by creating an original and personal piece using Provence clay.
Location:
Schedule :
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Price:
60€ (material provided)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
From 4 Sep. To 5 Sep.
Monty Python legend Eric Idle is coming to Cotignac for a very special weekend. Open-air film screenings, a signing of his book Idle in Provence, an aperitif and dinner at Le Bistrot will mark this unique opportunity to meet the British comedian, who has been in love with the Var for more than fifty years.
Location:
Friday :
From 8.30 pm
Saturday :
From 3 pm
Price:
Friday : 12€ / Saturday : 68€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Thursday 3 September
With the mic checked and guitar in hand, Broken Man sets off along the winding roads of American roots music. His uplifting, crowd-pleasing folk pop draws on blues and country, weaving together original compositions and carefully reworked covers. A genuine artist with a vibrant repertoire.
Location:
Schedule :
From 7 pm
Price:
10€ (entry + 1 drink : wine, beer or soft)
Booking:
Recommended
