Le Bar-sur-Loup travel guide

Visit Le Bar-sur-Loup (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France)

Le Bar-sur-Loup is a perched village on a hill to the west of the Alpes-Maritimes department of Provence, surrounded by hills and inland from the Cote d'Azur north of Frejus and west of Grasse, and above the valley of the Loup river. The site has been occupied since at least 3000 years ago,

Exploring Bar-sur-Loup

France This Way review: Le Bar-sur-Loup is a picturesque village but small and with less to see than other villages in the region such as Gourdon and Tourrettes-sur-Loup, so we suggest you visit if you have time even if the village is not your highest priority...

The medieval village of Le Bar-sur-Loup is quite small, partly pedestrianised, and an attractive village to explore, with picturesque stone houses along narrow streets and vaulted passageways, and even traces of ancient troglodyte dwellings in places. As you explore you will also see parts of the original town ramparts, witness to its strategic importance during the early middle ages.

There was a castle here from the 10th century onwards around which the village originally developed, although the current castle is a 16th century replacement (in private ownership). In fact a Roman era tomb stood here even before the castle, and a stone from the tomb is now part of the church belltower.

The Bar-sur-Loup tourist office is on the ground floor of the mairie (town hall). The statue in front of the castle is of an 18th century admiral who was born in the castle and helped America at the battle of Yorktown during the American War of Independence.

At the top of the village is the 14th century Church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur, predominantly roman in style, which features an ornate carved door and an impressive altarpiece painted by Bréa (16th century), along with some 17th century statues and a painting called the 'Danse Macabre' (which tells the story of a ball given by the Count of Bar at which all the invited guests died).

There is a path up the Sarrée plateau behind the village from where you can look down on the village rooftops and views stretching far into the distance and you will also find some small chapels in and near the village.

Attractions in the region

Nearby the main attraction is the Gorges du Loup, with the fast moving river surrounded by cliffs and steep hills sometimes giving rise to waterfalls along the way. From Le Pont du Loup head north towards Bramafan, then south along the Gourdon road as far as Chateauneuf where you can rejoin the road to le Bar-sur-Loup. With a trip to Tourrettes-sur-Loup this trip makes for a very pleasant and scenic day out.

The nearby destinations of Gourdon and Grasse provide an interesting contrast with each other: Gourdon is a tiny village (classified among the 'most beautiful villages in France') in a remarkable clifftop location, while Grasse is a bustling and noisy Provencal town. Visits to both are highly recommended. Note that although Gourdon appears very close to Bar-sur-Loup on a map the deep valley between them makes the journey by car substantially longer.

You can find more travel ideas in the Alpes-Maritimes guide and the Provence guide.