Varの洞窟・トップ20

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

Very nice castle that can only be visited by appointment, a real shame

Balaguier Fort is one of the three main defensive buildings in Toulon harbor, built in the 17th century. The monument is now decorated with a botanical garden and houses a naval museum whose exhibitions are mainly focused on the underwater world.

A lovely village

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.

Here you will pass many wine fields and marvel at great castle-style wineries.

Always worth a sin to try in autumn.