An early Spring Day in the Haut Var, Provence: Tourtour — Part 3/3

An early Spring Day in the Haut Var, Provence Part 3/3

• Find Part 2/3 here –

Here, in Provence not only has Spring passed us by but Summer too. However it won’t be long and it will come around again, as we know and it will feel like someone turned on a switch and the temperatures have risen, the flowers have bloomed and the sunny terraces are busy again.

Last spring 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 a very easy way to spend a day.  Not only is it a beautiful drive but it’s a complete change of atmosphere.  Here you’ll enjoy a beautiful drive through the countryside and you’ll 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.

Tourtour

Haut Var, Provence

Next on the list was Tourtour.  It was just a short distance from Cotignac. The best place to park is by the church high on the hill.   When you arrive there, you can only be blown away by the amazing views of what seems to be the entirety of Provence.

From this vista, you are looking out as far as Aix-en-Provence where you can see the  Mont Saint Victoire to the right and as you pan across, you are looking over all of Sainte Baume and the view takes you as far down as Frejus.  It feels like you are on top of the world!

As always, I ventured into the heart of the village where I found myself lost in a maze of ally-like streets.  I love admiring all of the doors and windows.  Every home has its little touch. I’m always amazed that people live there.  It seems surreal.  I often think it must be so peaceful and nice to grow up in a little village like this but on the other hand, I wonder what does everyone do?!

I did see a group of young men playing “boule”.  I’d taken a seat in the square just below the church where, once again, the views were amazing.  It was Wednesday which meant there was no school in the afternoon.  The guys were having a ball challenging each other as they so carefully lanced those metal balls.  Click!   Oui!!!

It was fun to watch them.  They were all dressed in tracksuits and had funky haircuts. The Parisians would probably think “plouc”.  Like all boys worldwide they were egging each other on.  It was cute.

I also saw a guy painting a door and he turned to say hello.  He was not just painting a door, he was painting a beautiful scene which I found interesting.  I should have asked him what he was painting but on this day I took the French approach and quietly smiled which showed my appreciation for his work but I didn’t want to invade his privacy. 

I can only imagine how a town like Tourtour is an artist’s dream.  Between the views that stretch forever and the lovely village scenes, there is no shortage of things to paint.  It’s lovely.

Tourtour is charming and like many villages in Provence, there are beautiful Platanes trees, and the quiet town square is adorned with a restaurant or two.  A perfect place to sit and enjoy a moment admiring the beauty of Provence. 

I found this to be one of the prettiest towns I’ve seen.  The views are spectacular and it feels like a little hideaway, tucked up in the high hills of the Haut Var, in Provence.

I highly recommend Tourtour.

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

• Here you can visit La Chute du Grand Baou — Part 1/3 of this min-series, and
• Here you can visit Cotignac — Part 2/3, 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 the author.

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