First stop-off, the Vallée Rose market at Fréjus, where Gilbert, the boss, has created an authentic farmer’s market to the delight of epicurean cooks! Fruit, vegetables, olive oil, breads, cheeses, poultry and meat, a proper farmer’s market for the locals and the region! A feast for your eyes and body! But first a stop-off at the Vallée Rose market at Fréjus, where Gilbert, the boss, has created an authentic farmer’s market to the delight of epicurean cooks! Fruit, vegetables, olive oil, breads, cheeses, poultry and meat, a proper farmer’s market for the locals and the region! A feast for your eyes and body!

La Motte: authentic and picturesque

North of the N7, between Le Muy (5 km) and Draguignan (12 km), on the Endre river, La Motte is a charming, green village, renowned for its wine and its famous golf course, Saint Endréol. Karine Ferri and Yoann Gourcuff had their dream wedding in La Motte at the small church of Saint Victor. The Nartuby river flows to the south of La Motte,  where there is an impressive waterfall, at “Saut du Capelan”, near the village. This magnificent, picturesque village, located in the heart of rich vineyard with the Nartuby running through it, was the first village liberated during Operation Dragoon. Strolling through its narrow streets gives you a sense of wellbeing and a much-needed change of scenery. This village has real soul and you can feel it.

Third stage

Draguignan: the Dragon City!

Draguignan, capital of Dracénie, “Dragon City” lies between the Verdon Gorge and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

Authentic and brilliant! Draguignan offers pure Provençal charm, with its “Tour de l’Horloge” (Clock Tower), broad boulevards, pedestrian streets and museums. The  subprefecture of Var has the charm of a village with all the benefits of a town! Provençal ambiance guaranteed with its markets, quintessential narrow streets and museum treasures.

Draguignan is discovered or rediscovered by strolling through its streets, listening to its walls steeped in history and examining its stones… You’ll love breathing in the gardens and looking out over the old town from the Clock Tower.

The tower building stands 18 metres high in total and was built around the 18^th or 19^th century. If you include its iron belfry, the tower is exactly 24 metres. It overlooks Draguignan old town and was built on a rocky overhang. Listed as a French historic monument, it is full of meaning and emotion. And it still rings for the inhabitants of Dracénie! As you will hear!

Discover the BERTIN Cheese Dairy: Belvezet Farm at Taradeau

There are touching family histories and tales of the land. This one is heart-warming yet powerful. JULIEN Bertin manages Belvezet Farm at TARADEAU. A family business! Florence and Philippe bought the farm, then a ruin, with no water or electricity, in 1978. They started out with 20 goats, 10 beehives and high hopes! Their estate has since expanded (30 ha) thanks to their passion, hard work and JULIEN! Their son had no choice but to take over!

Nowadays, their 70 goats go out each day onto the hillside, onto the hundred or so hectares of heath and woodland, surrounding the farm. The farm buildings include a barn, stables, milking parlour, milk dairy and cheese dairy (cold room, drying room and ripening room). The goats are Chamoisée Alpines and the four cows are Tarines. They live outside in a large enclosure below the house. The result: very flavoursome cheeses! Three types of lactic cheese, pressed cheese made with rennet and whey and soft cheese made with lactic ferments and yogurts.

Taradeau
This small Provençal village is located 10 kilometres from Draguignan, on the D10, connecting Les Arcs (5 kilometres) with Lorgues (8 kilometres). Overlooked by a watchtower dating back to the Saracen era and a 17^th-century chapel, Taradeau is nestled in the heart of the Florièye river valley, which leaves the Gayepan Gorges to flow into the Argens. A land of water and good wine situated at 65 metres altitude.

Fifth stage

Les Arcs sur Argens: The marvellous medieval city of “Le Parage”

You can’t help but fall in love with the medieval quarter of the village of Les Arcs sur Argens. It overlooks the town centre with its 1,500 hectares of communal forest at the heart of the Maures Massif. The “Le Parage” appellation once referred to the village nobles’ quarter. Very well preserved, this quarter will take you back to the 18^th century, along its narrow streets, into a time of medieval charm, with its 19-metre-high keep, many fountains, and 4 doors (the door of the Réal, the Milante door, the Low or Clock door and the High door) providing access. Other ruins, such as the Clock Tower and its belfry, dating back to 1662, the 17^th-century Saint-Pierre chapel, a masterpiece of Roman architecture, and the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste make it an exceptional place.

Les Arcs sur Argens

Les Arcs sur Argens straddles the Maures plain and its major highways: the A8 motorway, the RN7 and the Paris-Marseille-Nice-Italy rail line. It has its own station (Les Arcs-Draguignan, TGV and main lines), serving a wide area from Haut Var (regional nature park of Verdon 50 km away) to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez (30 km).