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During your stay, your eyes as well as your ears will be solicited:
art in all its forms is present in the Var. Music, shows and works of art make our department a culturally rich land.
From July to September, at Le Thoronet Abbey – a major heritage site in the Var – close to La Bastide de Notre-Dame (Entrecasteaux); of Clos d’Alari (Saint-Antonin du Var); du Mas de Cotignac (Cotignac) of the La Bastide Selva (La Garde-Freinet) as well as Mas de San Lou (Cabasse) – celebrates music with “Les musicales de l’abbaye”. Its unique acoustics showcase a wide repertoire of music, from Gregorian to contemporary, as well as the abbey’s various spaces.
Throughout the year, concerts and festivals of all musical styles are organized all over the Var. The exceptional climate and the diversity of events and venues have a lot to do with it! Whether you’re a couple, friends or family, a fan of rock, jazz, classical, urban or world music, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Here are some ideas for music festivals and events near our member houses:
In season, the nightlife here is always lively! Take advantage of the various night markets, amusement parks and dozens of bars, brasseries, pubs, discotheques and casinos ready to welcome you for a great night out, whatever the atmosphere you’re looking for!
The Var is the land of contemporary art: museums, art centers, foundations, sometimes open-air exhibitions, architectural buildings… Art is honored in all its forms.
Why not discover the richness and diversity of these works on the “Contemplating contemporary art in the Var” tour? Paintings, sculptures and many other wonders are on offer, in places where art and nature sometimes even mix.
Stops along the route include: La Falaise art center in Cotignac Le Mas de Cotignac (Cotignac) – paintings, sculptures, engravings and plastic arts; the Hôtel Départemental des expositions in Draguignan La Maison de Platane (Fayence); Le Mas des Romarins (Fayence); Le Clos des Cambres (Les Arcs-sur-Argens) – more than 650m² dedicated to the themes of history and civilization; Toulon’s Hôtel des Arts La Bergerie des Oliviers (Meounes-Les-Montrieux,) – with its remarkable architecture, diversified cultural offering and accessible culture; or the Maison Waldberg in Seillans La Maison de Platane (Fayence) Le Mas des Romarins (Fayence) where surrealist lithographs by Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning are on display; the Fondation Carmagnac in Porquerolles La villa Thalassa (Le Lavandou) – an exhibition space dedicated to contemporary art, surrounded by a sculpture garden in the heart of the Port-Cros National Park..
Contemporary art can also be enjoyed outdoors! This is the case, for example, at Château Sainte-Roseline in Les Arcs-sur-Argens Le Clos des Cambres (Les Arcs-sur-Argens), which offers a program combining cellar tours, wine tasting, art exhibitions and cultural events.
To Flassans-sur-Issole, Le Mas de San Lou and La Maison Saint-Louis (Besse-sur-Issole); La Grande Lauzane (Luc-en-Provence) -In addition to its wines, the Commanderie de Peyrassol is home to one of France’s finest monumental sculpture parks.
There’s also a sculpture garden and contemporary art exhibitions at Villa Carmignac, on the island of Porquerolles, Hyères La villa Thalassa Le Lavandou.
When it comes to architecture, the Var is home to a number of contemporary buildings that are a pleasure to explore and stand out for their diversity. Just a few of our suggestions alongside the houses in our network: the Artuby bridge in Aiguines, Europe’s highest bridge for bungee jumping at a height of 182 meters; the Hameau des Sablettes, a 19th-century seaside resort in La Seyne-sur-Mer, home to numerous works of art and awarded the “Patrimoine du XXe siècle” label by the French Ministry of Culture; or the entire lakeside town of Port Grimaud, La Bastide Selva (La Garde-Freinet); the largest marina on the French Riviera, a veritable cross between Venice and Provence!
Special mention for Villa Noailles in Hyères (La villa Thalassa Le Lavandou) which in 2023 celebrates its 100th anniversary. An emblematic place in the Var where art, design, architecture, fashion and photography come together. Workshops, conferences, exhibitions and residencies are organized there, always highlighting the history of the villa and its patrons Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles.
It’s impossible for us to ignore the artisans of the Var.
Confectioners, soap-makers, brewers, winemakers, ceramists, cabinet-makers, santon-makers, designers… Enthusiasts who place know-how at the heart of their activity, while also knowing how to blend tradition and modern innovation. They welcome you in their boutiques and sometimes even in their workshops and production sites.
One of the most typical skills of the Var and Provence in general is the creation of santons, with its rich and detailed history. The ceramics production that forged this heritage can be found in villages such as Brue-Auriac, Barjols, etc. Bellone en Provence (Brue-Auriac), ou Salernes La Bastide de Notre-Dame (Entrecasteaux); Le Clos d’Alari (Saint-Antonin du Var); Le Mas de Cotignac (Cotignac); La villa Thalassa Le Lavandou; La Bastide Selva (La Garde-Freinet) – thanks to Provence cane, a plant that is very common in the Var.
To visit our santons “in situ”, go to Maxime Coudou’s famous crib in the Saint-Jean chapel in La Garde-Freinet (more than 10,000 visitors in 2017). La villa Thalassa Le Lavandou; La Bastide Selva (La Garde-Freinet)
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