Τα 7 καλύτερα κάστρα Cotignac

Wonderful to look at in the sunlight. Not pompous, but rather practical and imposing. Unfortunately, not open to the public.

Viewpoint over the city

When you are in Cotignac facing the cliff, all you want to do is go up and see the two towers that dominate.

Built at the top of a magnificent tuff cliff (80m high by 400m wide), they dominate the medieval roofs of the village of Cotignac to better protect them. Formerly, in the Middle Ages, they had a very particular vocation. The smaller one served as a watchtower, while the larger one was part of the feudal castle (built in the 11th century apparently by the Castellane family) which sat at the top of the cliff. From up there, the view embraces the entire plain to the south which extends as far as Entrecasteaux and Carcès. Thus we could see the troops of the invaders fairly early on or, at the very least, the signs announcing their imminent arrival. The large tower has the particularity of having a “secret passage” communicating with the troglodytic cave dug into the cliff. Thus, during attacks, the inhabitants climbed into the cave then went up to take refuge in the fortifications at the top of the cliff. Moreover, before the construction of the castle, during the centuries of terror which stretched between the fall of the Roman Empire and the flight of the Saracens from Provence, the local people (the village at that time was located near of Saint Martin priory) quickly climbed to take refuge in the caves when danger arrived.

The ruins of a medieval castle built on top of a hill overlooking Salernes. From here you have a beautiful view of the historic city center and the surrounding countryside. There are two oval towers of the fortifications to be explored here, as well as the remains of the ground floor of the Buda Castle and some outer walls. The towers have been converted into viewpoints, but unfortunately they are not in a neat condition.

Please note the road is closed in the event of a very severe fire risk (information available here => https://www.risque-prevention-feu.fr/var/

Private château from the 11th and 17th centuries with its French-style garden inspired by the designs of Le Nôtre. It is inhabited and richly furnished (paintings, tapestries, historical documents).

The Château d'Entrecasteaux is an old fortress from the 17th century. It is the most important in the Var.