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Exploring Provence with a visit to Garéoult

December 1, 2016 by Ashley 4 Comments

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The town of Garéoult, in the Var department, is a nice, family-fun, place to visit in Provence.

The village is located about 30 minutes north of Toulon in the French countryside. There is no longer a chateau here and no “tourist attractions” per say, but even so, the village offers a nice day trip to those wanting to get off of the beaten path and spend a relaxing, casual day out with the family. It also offers some nice pieces of history to see, a couple of good restaurants and a tea house. There is a newly-made parking lot just off of the main highway D554.

The vineyards in Garéoult
The vineyards in Garéoult

 

The poppy fields in spring in Garéoult
The poppy fields in spring in Garéoult

It is situated on a plateau surrounded by hills and vineyards. The forest to the north is called the Garéoult forest and is around 700 hectares. It is made up of mainly white oaks and Scottish Pines. It also serves as a great place to hike and gives an impressive view of the landscape when you are up in the hills. The southern area is made up of around 500 hectares of vineyards. This area is called La Provence Verte (Green Provence) because it is an area where it rains quite a bit. It is also an area where the famous Mistral winds can blow very violently.

Gallo Roman Times and Middle Ages.

This village dates back to the Gallo-Roman time period, but the majority of its known history began in the Middle Ages. During a renovation project in 1988, when the city was putting in a public swimming pool, excavators found 90 burial sites. Archeologists were called in and after careful examination of the remains, found that the oldest dated back to the Gallo-Roman times and the most recent ones dated back to the Middle Ages. Today, in the small town hall (Mairie) museum called, La Nécropole Louis Cauvin, a set of one of the remains from the 1st century A.D. is on display along with some of the earthenware artifacts that were found.

The skeletal remains from 1 A.D in La Nécropole Louis Cauvin in Garéoult
The skeletal remains from 1 A.D in La Nécropole Louis Cauvin in Garéoult

There are also illustrated panels on the excavation and the burial rituals of that time period. I encourage you to start here so you can get in a bit of history and also find some brochures in the lobby area of things to see and do in the surrounding area.

Historical Timeline Panels in La Nécropole Louis Cauvin in Garéoult
Historical Timeline Panels in La Nécropole Louis Cauvin in Garéoult

Around the year 1500, an animal powered olive oil mill was constructed in the center of the village. The mill continued to operate until the year 1956 when the olive fields that surrounded the community froze.

The Village Fountains

There are eight fountains in the village that are continuously fed by the spring called Saint Medard. The oldest of these fountains was built in 1745 and restored in 2000. You can see this fountain just outside the town hall in a square by the church.  It is called “The 4 Seasons”.  The restoration was done by the village’s stone cutter. It has a dagger shape to show the power of the Lord and the four faces that surround it are to represent the four seasons. It is surrounded by trees that are several hundred years old.

The 4 Seasons Fountain in Garéoult
The 4 Seasons Fountain in Garéoult

 Saint Etienne Church

Facing the Four Seasons fountain is the original church which was built in a Romanesque style between the years 1045 and 1048. On top of the church is a wrought-iron, ornamented, bell tower which was built in 1842.

Clock Tower in Garéoult
Clock tower of church Saint Etienne in Garéoult
Saint Etienne Church
Side view of Saint Etienne church and bell tower in Garéoult

The church was partially destroyed, but rebuilt in 1848 using the original stones.

The bell tower in Garéoult
The bell tower of Saint Etienne in Garéoult

Inside the church are fifteen classified works, some of them being statues and busts, bells, a pulpit, an alter and a painting of three saints.

Inside Saint Etienne church in Garéoult
Inside Saint Etienne Church in Garéoult

 

Some of the historical artifacts in the church Saint Etienne in Garéoult
Some of the historical artifacts in the church Saint Etienne in Garéoult

 

Painting inside the church Saint Etienne in Garéoult
Painting inside the church Saint Etienne in Garéoult

The Ancient Bread Oven

Walking just north you will find the “four banal” or tax oven. It has been in the center of the village for over 500 years. Here was where the villagers had to pay a tax to the overseeing lord in order to bake their bread. Nowadays, villagers and visitors may go and get some freshly baked bread here twice a year, near Christmas and on Saint John’s day and participate in the celebration of the history of the village.

The 500 year old bread oven "four banal" in Garéoult
The 500 year old bread oven “four banal” in Garéoult

Buying Community Wine

Continue making your way north to a street called Avenue Etienne Gueit and walk towards the west. Here you will find a wine cooperative which was constructed at the end of the 20th century. It’s called Le Cellier Provençal and has been newly restored in the year 2016 with a new store in which you can by wine from the community vines. I encourage you to buy a few bottles as souvenirs of your trip. Currently there are several domains in Garéoult which carry on the important tradition of wine making in this area. They are: The Domaine de Cambaret, Domaine de Garbelle, Domaine de la Bastides des Oliviers and Domaine de Château de Chaberts.

Le Cellier Provencal wine store in Garéoult
Le Cellier Provencal wine store in Garéoult

The Chapel Saint Felix

The little chapel Saint Felix in Garéoult
The little chapel Saint Felix in Garéoult

Make your way to the northern, outer rim and located just outside the village center you will find the Chapel Saint Felix on a small hill. This religious building was built in 1885 and dedicated to the saint who came to Garéoult during August 1854 when a Cholera epidemic killed 70 people in 25 days. He is considered the town hero for helping to save the rest of the population.

The chapel has been newly restored during the last few years thanks to the generous donations and time of the people of the town. It is open each Thursday afternoon and the first Sunday of September, there is a procession to it.

In order to get to the chapel, you must make your way across the street and follow the walking path to the cemetery.

Tree-lined Path in Garéoult
This tree-lined path takes you toward passed the cemetery and towards Saint Felix in Garéoult

 

The Vineyard House in Garéoult
The Vineyard House in Garéoult

Just passed the cemetery, you will see a small house at the edge of a vineyard. Pass by the house and you will see the sign indicating the chapel. Take the stony path to the left of the sign and in about a one or two minute walk, you will see the chapel. On the far side of the chapel is a little area to sit and enjoy the view.

A side view of Saint Felix chapel in Garéoult
A side view of Saint Felix chapel in Garéoult

 

The front of Saint Felix Chapel in Garéoult
The front of Saint Felix Chapel in Garéoult

 

The view from the front of Saint Felix Chapel in Garéoult
The view from the front of Saint Felix Chapel in Garéoult

A Walk Around

After a small break, go back down the path you came up on and when you reach the street, turn left. Continue down this street and it will open up to vineyards. Take a right turn at the first intersection you come to. As you walk down this street, vineyards will be on your right and both houses on the hill and vineyards will be on your left. The road wines around for a while.

The Garéoult vineyards in autumn
The Garéoult vineyards in autumn

When you come to the end of the street there will be a stop sign. Turn right here and this street will take you back to the center of the village. You will pass the tennis courts and the public swimming pool (where the ancient burial site was). Then you will see the main, town round-about. Cross the street to enter into the old part of town. This is the main street where all the stores are.

The round about leading to the main street in Garéoult
The round about leading to the main street in Garéoult

If you are in the mood for the best cakes you will probably ever have, stop into the bakery just on the left after the round-about. It’s called La Fournee de Bella. There is something for everyone at this patisserie. My review on Google Local Guides is here along with some photos.

Continue to make your way down the main street. If the hunger bug hits you, I recommend the two restaurants in town. One is a pizza place called La Table de Lilou and the other is an Asian restaurant called Saveurs d’Asie and as luck would have it, they are right next to each other on Boulevard du Mourillon.  Both offer delicious food and in the spring and summer they have outdoor seating under the trees.

The town also offers a cute, little tea house called Variations Autour du Thé. The inside is very inviting with a small table area. They offer all sorts of teas, coffees, hot chocolates, crepes and a host of other small meals and drinks. It’s a very cozy place and my personal preference, the dark hot chocolate. They give you a large cup of milk with a block of chocolate next to it and you swirl the chocolate around in the milk to make your own hot chocolate. Very tasty!

Getting ready to make hot chocolate at Variations Autour de Thé in Garéoult
Getting ready to make hot chocolate at Variations Autour de Thé in Garéoult

 

Making hot chocolate in Garéoult
Making hot chocolate in Garéoult

 

Nice cup of hot chocolate
The finished hot chocolate.

They also sell, tea pots, cups made from a local artisan, chocolate, and a host of things that are great for gifts or souvenirs. My review on Google Local Guides is here.

Please note the days and times that specific places are open. Typically, things to see and visit are closed during lunch time and on Sundays and restaurants adhere to a pretty strict lunch schedule between 12:00 and 2:00 and a dinner schedule of 7:00 to 9:30ish.

I hope you take time out and enjoy your adventure here. I would love to hear how your visit went and what you enjoyed the most so please let me know by leaving me a comment below.

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Filed Under: Exploring Places Tagged With: artifacts, canola, chapel, chocolate, church, daytrip, fields, fountain, france, Gareoult, history, oven, poppies, provence, skeleton, tea, travel, trees, trip, village, vineyards, wine

Comments

  1. Stephen says

    August 26, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    Great post! I love the descriptions and all of your photos. Provence is actually a part of France I haven’t yet been to. Your post has put it even higher on my list.

    Are there many decent accommodation options in Gareoult? It looks like a place I’d love to go and just relax for a few days. Read a few books in some authentic cafes….:D

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 29, 2017 at 10:26 am

      Hi Stephen,

      Thanks for visiting and liking my photos and content! I really appreciate it 🙂 Provence is quite lovely to see and there are so many things to do. I always here people saying that they’ve been to Nice, Cannes and Aix-en-Provence, and thought these places are amazing, there is so much more to see here! When you come, take advantage of the lovely countryside and all the things to see and do outside of the bigger villages.

      As far as accommodations, there are a few and there are also some in the surrounding villages. I will be writing about one in particular around end of September 🙂 Cafes, nice and quaint restaurants and family bars with terraces abound here so you’ll have no shortage of places. The bonus, it’s not super touristy so you’ll have some nice peace and quiet away from the crowds!

      Hope to see you soon!

      All the best,

      Ashley

      Reply
  2. Anh Nguyen says

    December 1, 2016 at 4:27 am

    Hey there,

    This is such a beautiful post with all of the photos. I’ve never been to Provence or France before but you really make me want to pack my bags now, I love the ancient air of Garéoult.

    This doesn’t seem like a crowded touristic spot either, just my style.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers,
    Anh

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      December 1, 2016 at 4:27 am

      Hi Anh,

      Thanks for your comment! Garéoult is very quiet, there are usually no tourists so it’s nice and uncrowded. It’s a good, little, no-mans land in the middle of the countryside. Just right for exploring!

      Hope you get a chance to visit one day.

      All the best,

      Ashley

      Reply

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