An early Spring Day in the Haut Var, Provence: La Chute du Grand Baou — Part 1/3

An early Spring Day in the Haut Var, Provence

Haut Var, Provence

Here, in Provence when Spring officially starts it feels like someone has turned on a switch, and the temperatures rise, the flowers bloom and the sunny terraces are suddenly busy again.

I spent a lovely day visiting the Haute Var. 

If you’re down by the sea (like me) it’s only about an hour away so it’s an easy way to spend a day.  Not only is it a beautiful drive but it’s a complete change of atmosphere.  You’ll enjoy a beautiful drive through the countryside and be enchanted by the many villages tucked away amongst the grotto and hills.

As always, I loved it, and like every time I go anywhere for the first time, in France I feel just as excited as the first time I arrived over 30 years ago. Here’s what I discovered.

La Chute du Grand Baou

Wow!!!  Amazing surprise!

After driving for about an hour from Sanary-sur-Mer, we arrived at our first stop.

I was slightly underwhelmed as I saw nothing but a very ordinary-looking field, strewn with plastic chairs and tables and it looked like a popular destination for camping cars.  Hmmmm.  I was yet to be “Wowed”.  I walked along the field admiring the many signs of Spring.  The flowers bloomed and the field was covered in daffodils.  It all looked basic but I was told I was in for a surprise. 

I was…

I wandered along to the edge of the property, where I suddenly heard the loud sounds of a wildly moving river. 

There was a little opening through the trees and a path led us down to a very magical place. 

La Chute du Grand Baou

As we made our way down the dirt steps, the sound was getting louder and louder and I was beginning to get glimpses of the water as it moved below.  Nearing the bottom of the trail (which was not far)  I could see the clear water as it rushed over the many large rocks and fallen trees. When I looked up I was awed by the waterfalls in front of me. 

I stopped dead in my tracks. 

La Chute du Grand Baou

Before me, three waterfalls crashing down into a large pool of water.  The pool looked fairly calm which was such a contrast to the force of the water that was pouring into it.   I took a moment to absorb the scene and took a few deep breaths of the fresh cool air.

Of course, I immediately started taking pictures, and finding the right angle to capture it all was tough but I managed a few good ones.

As it’s early Spring, there wasn’t a soul around and I always feel fortunate to discover these places off-season.  All that said, I will return on a hot summer day to take a dip in the natural pool.

La Chute du Grand Baou was a hidden gem.  Stop by if you are in the area.  You will love it.

As you can see, a day out exploring the Haut Var is well worth the effort. 

• Here you can visit Cotignac — Part 2/3 of this mini-series, and
• Here you can visit TourTour — Part 3/3, and
• If you’d like to spend more time in the area, I suggest a day trip to Les Gorges du Verdon.  This is a day in itself.

So much to do!!!

Have you been to Haut Var? If not then enjoy visiting the Haut Var as soon as possible.

Image Credits:
All images – copyright by the author.

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