Draguignan

Visit Draguignan, Provence

Draguignan is a substantial town to the east of the Var department (Provence region) of France.

While Draguignan has not historically been considered as an important tourist destination, in recent years the town centre has been improved and the town has been growing in popularity as a destination with visitors to this part of Provence. It also has the largest shopping centre in the region.

Exploring Draguignan

A significant part of the historical old town was removed to make way for the boulevards, the broad tree-lines avenues that were created in the 19th century and which now surround the old town.

These bustling boulevards provide a contrast to the old town, which has lots of narrow streets opening on to open squares with traditional fountains, and some houses with interesting architectural details. Some of the best preserved medieval houses can be seen in the Rue de la Juiverie

One highlight of particular note is the 17th century clocktower, a square tower with a campanile that stands on a raised rocky area above the town.

There is also a nice public garden in Draguignan, and a memorial and war cemetery for the US soldiers killed during the Second World War landings on the Provence coast (1944).

Ideally you will arrange your visit for Wednesday or Saturday, the weekly market days in Draguignan.

There are also a couple of museums of interest in Draguignan, the most important being the Museum of Provencal Traditions, that focusses on the history of agriculture and crafts in the Var. The other is the Municipal Museum that contains many artefacts from the history of the town, and is housed in the 18th century Bishops Palace.

Just outside Draguignan is a large prehistoric dolmen called the Fairy Stone (Pierre des fées), one of the most impressive I recall seeing, with an enormous slab of stone supported about two metres off the ground by three massive supporting rocks.

See Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Var (the region and department for Draguignan) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Draguignan: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Draguignan, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Seillans 18km; Roquebrune-sur-Argens 18km; Entrecasteaux 18km; Bagnols-en-Foret 19km; Salernes 19km; Fayence 21km; Tourrettes 21km; Aups 22km; Bargeme 23km; Callian 25km; Frejus 25km;

Draguignan tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Abbaye du Thoronet (Le Thoronet) - religious monument (16km) : Thoronet Abbey - national monument (19km) : Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument (25km) : Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (25km) : Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (28km) : Grottes de Saint-Cezaire - site of natural beauty (31km) : Verdon - regional natural parc (33km) : Lac de Sainte-Croix - site of natural beauty (34km) :

See more places and a map at places near Draguignan