Var: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Var can then continue searching for accommodation. Var has 432 kilometres of coastline. Between the Mediterranean, rivers, lakes, gorges, nature parks and historic sites, a diverse landscape and cultural character unfolds.

Hiking and landscapes

More than 2,000 kilometres of trails are recorded in Var's hiking trail network, the PDIPR. The PDIPR network provides access to nature as well as to remarkable landscape and ecological areas, including several départementale ENS areas. Var also offers 800 kilometres of long-distance hiking trails, several hundred kilometres of short hiking trails and more than 200 kilometres of the Sentier du Littoral.

Activities available in Var include climbing, diving, walking, horse riding, cycling, rowing, archery, orienteering and water sports. The route Balades en Préalpes varoises leads from Notre Dame near Bargemon to Mont Lachens, which reaches an altitude of 1,714 metres.

Access to Var's forests is regulated from June to September. Before setting out on a hike, the daily forest fire risk map should be consulted.

Nature

The Parc national de Port-Cros was the first marine park created in Europe. It serves as a stopover for migratory birds and is home to rare Mediterranean bird species such as puffins.

Var has 244 Espaces naturels sensibles (ENS), covering a total area of 13,618 hectares. These ENS areas are open to everyone and free to access. Some ENS areas have Maisons départementales de la nature, which serve as resource and activity centres. The département's nature excursions are free and require registration.

The Parc naturel régional de la Sainte-Baume extends across 26 municipalities in Var and Bouches-du-Rhône. It covers almost 81,000 hectares, 80 percent of which are natural areas. The Parc naturel départemental du Plan in La Garde and Le Pradet offers guided tours across 135 hectares.

Rivers, lakes and coastline

The Argens crosses Var from west to east for 114 kilometres before reaching the sea at Fréjus. The Gorges du Verdon and Lac de Sainte-Croix offer canoeing, pedal boating, electric boat trips and guided walks.

At Lac de Saint-Cassien, hiking, swimming and fishing are possible; the lake is also appreciated by migratory birds.

Cycling

The Var département's cycling guide contains 22 circular routes for experienced cyclists and amateurs. The circular routes pass through the plateaux of Bas-Verdon, Sainte-Baume, the Gorges du Verdon, the Massif du Siou Blanc and the Ubac des Maures.

The French section of EuroVélo 8 crosses Haut Var for more than 135 kilometres from east to west. Var has 13 cyclosport circuits and other hilly cycling routes distributed throughout the département.

Culture and history

Var's remarkable heritage includes the Roman aqueduct and amphitheatre of Fréjus, the Abbaye du Thoronet, and the basilica and royal monastery of Saint-Maximin.

The Abbaye du Thoronet is listed as a Historic Monument and is one of the three Cistercian abbeys of Provence. An annual themed exhibition at the Abbaye de la Celle highlights the diversity of Var's ancient heritage.

Local specialities

Var's culinary traditions include truffle markets as well as festivals dedicated to chestnuts, chickpeas and figs. Producers from Var sell their products directly at their own estates and at local farmers' markets.

Other places in Var: Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, Fréjus, Ampus, Artignosc-Sur-Verdon, Aups, Auribeau-Sur-Siagne, Bagnols-En-Forêt, Bandol, Bargemon, Barjols, Baudinard-Sur-Verdon, Bauduen, Besse-Sur-Issole, Bormes-Les-Mimosas, Boulouris-Sur-Mer, Bras, Brignoles, Cabasse, Callas, Callian, Camps-La-Source, Saint-Raphael, Carces, Carnoules, Carqueiranne, Cavalaire-Sur-Mer, Chateaudouble, Cogolin, Collobrieres, Correns, Cotignac, Cuers, Draguignan, Entrecasteaux, Fayence, Figanieres, Flassans-Sur-Issole, Flayosc, Fox-Amphoux, Garéoult, Gassin, Giens, Gonfaron, Grimaud, Hyères, La Cadière-D'azur, La Crau, La Croix-Valmer, La Farlede, La Garde, La Garde-Freinet, La Londe-Les-Maures, La Mole, La Motte, La Roquebrussanne, La Seyne-Sur-Mer, La Valette-Du-Var, La Verdiere, Le Beausset, Le Cannet-Des-Maures, Le Castellet, Le Flayosquet, Le Lavandou, Le Luc, Le Muy, Le Pradet, Le Revest-Les-Eaux, Le Thoronet, Le Val, Les Adrets-De-L'estérel, Les Arcs Sur Argens, Les Salles-Sur-Verdon, Lorgues, Meounes-Les-Montrieux, Mons, Montauroux, Montfort-Sur-Argens, Montmeyan, Nans-Les-Pins, Neoules, Ollières, Ollioules, Pierrefeu-Du-Var, Pignans, Plan-De-La-Tour, Ponteves, Pourrières, Puget-Sur-Argens, Ramatuelle, Rayol-Canadel-Sur-Mer, Regusse, Rians, Rocbaron, Saint-Antonin-Du-Var, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Mer, Saint-Mandrier-Sur-Mer, Saint-Paul-En-Forêt, Saint-Tropez, Saint-Zacharie, Sainte-Anastasie-Sur-Issole, Sainte-Maxime, Salernes, Sanary-Sur-Mer, Seillans, Seillons-Source-D'argens, Signes, Sillans-La Cascade, Six-Fours-Les-Plages, Solliès-Pont, Sollies-Toucas, Taradeau, Toulon, Tourrettes, Tourtour, Tourves, Trans-En-Provence, Varages, Vidauban, Villecroze, Trigance, Moissac-Bellevue, Forcalqueiret, La Celle, Evenos, Montferrat, Pourcieux, Tavernes, Mazaugues, Les Claux, Cap Bénat, Belgentier, Vinon-Sur-Verdon, Esparron, Vins-Sur-Caramy, Châteauvert, Claviers, Saint-Julien, La Martre, Les Mayons, Aiguines, Comps-Sur-Artuby, Solliès-Ville, Saint-Martin, La Bastide, Tanneron, Roquebrune-Sur-Argens, Puget-Ville, Ginasservis, Plan-D'aups-Sainte-Baume, Bargème, La Roque-Esclapon, La Bouillabaisse, Les Bormettes, Brue-Auriac.

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