A Walk Around Le Castellet

During a trip to the south of France in December 2018 including Nice, Bandol and stops along the Riviera, I visited the tiny village of Le Castellet.  While looking through my photos and dreaming of all the trips I want to plan soon, I wanted to share these and perhaps inspire you to take that road less traveled.

Le Castellet is a commune in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in Southeastern France. It consists of a small feudal village perched on a cliff edge and its surroundings. It is situated northwest of Toulon next to La Cadière-d’Azur and Le Beausset. It is surrounded by vineyards and is part of the Côtes de Provence Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) of Bandol. (Wikipedia)

The medieval village of Le Castellet, situated right in the heart of the Bandol vineyards. Like most provençal hill villages, the streets in Le Castellet are steep and cobbled, so come ready to climb a bit, and wear flat, comfortable shoes.

As its name suggests, Le Castellet started out as a stronghold, which you enter through one of two fortified gates. Sections of the old ramparts jostle for position with more recent houses and shops.

Le Castellet isn’t really about its historic sights, though. After a quick look inside the church, most visitors will just want to soak up the atmosphere, inspect the galleries and craft shops and stroll round the cobbled streets, squares and fountains.

The village’s commanding position made it a magnet for settlers since the Romans, who lost no time in planting olive trees and vines.

When in any country, it’s always more fun to get away from the big cities and off the beaten path to explore the hidden away gems.  The next time you’re driving down a road and you see a sign for someplace you’ve never heard of, be brave and take the unexpected turn.  You never know what you might find.  Here’s to many new adventures to come!