Discover Provençe...

Var

var département of provence coat of arms

Prefecture: Toulon

Subprefectures: Brignoles, Draguignan

Area: 5,973sq km (2,306sq mi)

Highest elevation: 1,886m (6187ft)

Lowest Elevation 0m

Population: 1,085,189

Var - Discover Provence with Pure French Soaps

st. tropez town in var département of provence

Follow the French soap trail & discover Provence with Pure French Soaps

This popular region of southern Provence is bordered to the east by the Alpes-Maritimes département, to the west by Bouches-du-Rhône, to the north the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and to the south by the Mediterranean Sea.

Along the coast lie picturesque resorts and some of the most beautiful scenery can be found in the Port Cros National Park and the Îles d'Hyères islands, just a short distance off the coast. Heading north the attractive landscape is interspersed with mountains, forests and numerous small towns and many of the famous “perched villages” of Provence.

It is an important region for horticulture, agriculture and viticulture. Var is France's largest grower of cut flowers, producing some 500 million stems each year and over 13% of the total area is dedicated to agriculture which employs over 40,000 people. Agricultural production in Var exceeds €610m per year of which 45% is sales of wine and 42% horticultural products.

St. Tropez - the famous "jet-set" resort for artists and the rich and glamorous.

Var is home to a quarter of all French olive groves, it produces 800 tonnes of honey every year and 80% of France's figs. The fig is a symbol of Provence and it thrives here in the unique micro-climate and well-drained, mineral-rich soil.

The esteemed Côtes-de-Provence wine region runs east to west across the département, and vines and viticultural related activities occupy 345sq km (133sq mi) of farmland. The 450 domaines or coopératives and the 4 AOCs (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) produce 150 million litres of wine each year, and Var leads the world in the production of rosé wine.

Côte-d'Azur and the Port-Cros National Park

Always with a sublime panorama of the sea, and with the rocks of the shore caressed by the waves, the coast of Var features over 300km (186mi) of unspoiled nature, protected islands and some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the region. Among the steep cliffs, rocky coastal paths, creeks and pine forests sit picturesque resorts like Bandol and the lively town of Saint-Tropez.

A small paradise nestling amid the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean, the Port-Cros National Park provides a sanctuary for Mediterranean wildlife and birds. Rich in plant life the park is also home to over 1000 species of marine mammals and fish, many of which are protected.

Var

A sublime panorama of the sea with the rocks of the shore caressed by the waves

Var

Over 300km (186mi) of unspoiled nature

Port-Cros National Park

Home to over 1000 species of marine mammals and fish

Var

A sublime panorama of the sea with the rocks of the shore caressed by the waves

1/16

Arrière-Pays Varois

Green hills

Arrière-Pays Varois

Valleys

Pays de Fayances

Bell-towers

Arrière-Pays Varois

Green hills

1/16

Arrière-Pays Varois (VAR Hinterland)

Moving inland, and in perfect contrast to the coast, the landscape gives way to green hills, small valleys, cultivated plains, scrubland and fragrant pine forests. It is here that wine, fruit, vegetables, flowers, honey, herbs and olive oil, characterise this region.

From the Sainte Baume Massif in the west to the Massif des Maures, (a series of low mountains behind the coast), to the Pays de Fayances in the north-east there’s a procession of wonders to discover; churches, chapels, caves, castles, bell towers all interspersed with agriculture, wild nature and fragrant pine forests.

Haut Var

In the north, nature is strongest... cliffs, gorges, rivers, torrents, waterfalls and lakes provide a mecca for outdoor adventurers and offer a wide range of leisure activities including fishing, swimming, rafting, canyoning, paragliding and climbing.

Among the mountains and in the immense forests wild boar, deer and hinds roam freely, and truffles and wild mushrooms grow in abundance. Interspersed in this calm and tranquil setting you will find beautiful old medieval villages perched at altitude.

At its furthest point north, the landscape is remote and wild, and against a magnificent backdrop and the very extensive Lake Sainte-Croix, you will find the deep and impressive Gorges du Verdon (also known as the Grand Canyon of France), which straddles both Var and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.