Var, France travel guide
The Var department of France is the central-southern part of Provence, along the coast between Bandol and Saint-Raphael, and inland through the Cotes de Provence wine region an to the Upper-Var.
This popular region of Provence includes a great deal of magnificent coastline, and some very interesting towns and villages. Head towards the quieter interior for a change of character.
Var Coast
The western half of the Cote d'Azur falls in this department including the well-known resorts of Saint-Tropez, Saint-Raphael and Frejus...and many others. See Cote d'Azur for the coastal section of Var and the resorts in the region.
Among the highlights: The Iles d'Hyeres just off the coast and including the Ile de Porquerolles are a major (and very beautiful) coastal attraction; at the eastern end of the department the coast road to the south of the Massif d'Esterel is one of the finest coast roads in France; the vineyards and wines around Bandol.
Cotes de Provence
Crossing the hills of the southern part of the region, and the Massif des Maures, is the highly esteemed Cotes de Provence wine region.
The attractive landscape is interspersed with numerous small towns and villages, including several of the well known 'perched villages' of Provence.
Some of the towns to visit here include Les-Arcs, Lorgues, Entrecasteaux , also the Abbey at Thoronet.
Head east to visit the most beautiful village at Seillans, and some of the other perched villages in this region (eg Callian, Fayence, Mons, Montauroux, St-Paul-en-Forêt, Seillans, Tourrettes, St-Paul-en-Foret and Tanneron).
Haut Var
Among the towns to enjoy here are Aups, Salernes, and the classified most beautiful village of Tourtour.
See also nearby Flayosc then head to Villecroze, best known for its troglodyte caves that are well worth visiting.
Further north again, enter into the countryside of the Upper Var (Haut-Var), just south of the deep and impressive Gorges du Verdon (also known as the Grand Canyon of France) where the landscape becomes more remote and wild.
At the end of the Gorges du Verdon, the very extensive Lake Sainte-Croix has a developed tourist industry and is popular with visitors exploring the gorges.
(photos contributed by Valerie Willis)
Visit Var - tourist information
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