Brue-Auriac can be explored from three distinct perspectives: Romanesque religious architecture, a striking pigeon tower and winegrowing. Chapelle Notre-Dame and Pigeonnier de Brue represent different periods of construction; the “Sentier Randonner Autrement – De vigne en vigne” circular trail takes in the history and processing of the grapevine. There is also a village treasure hunt and visits with tastings at wineries. This lets you choose what to focus on according to your interests: historic buildings, a themed walk or wine.
A chapel with several layers of history
Chapelle Notre-Dame in Brue-Auriac is a Romanesque chapel dating from the 12th century, with an adjoining priory. In the 19th century, it served as the parish church; since 1971, it has been listed in the inventory of historic monuments. These details place the site within several historical periods: the construction date is joined by its connection to the priory, its later function as a parish church and, ultimately, its inclusion in the monument inventory. For travellers interested in architectural and church history, this creates a tangible historical connection that goes beyond the building’s date. The construction date, religious function and protected status each answer different questions about the chapel’s history.
Pigeonnier de Brue in figures
Pigeonnier de Brue offers a later architectural point of reference. The cylindrical tower is 22.5 metres high and 12.43 metres wide; it was built around 1750 by Georges Roux de Corse. It is the largest 18th-century pigeon tower recorded in France. Its dimensions make its form easy to visualise; its date clearly sets it apart from the Romanesque chapel. Viewed together, the two buildings do not represent a single period, but span the time from the 12th century to the middle of the 18th century. Its form, scale and date therefore offer different ways to appreciate this building.
Circular trail and village treasure hunt
The 5.0-kilometre “Sentier Randonner Autrement – De vigne en vigne” circular trail leads from Chapelle Notre-Dame to the hamlet of Saint-Estève in Brue-Auriac. Its themes include the history of winegrowing, the seasons and the processing of the grapevine, as well as the story of the Greek god Dionysus. The route thus brings the history of winegrowing together with seasonal topics and a mythological narrative. Its length and named locations give the trail a clear framework; at the same time, its content goes beyond wine as a product.
Another activity in the village is the “Les secrets des pigeons Brussois” treasure hunt. It lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. The two formats therefore offer different experiences: a walk covering winegrowing, the seasons and mythology, and a treasure hunt with a specified duration. When planning, you can thus distinguish between a route measured by distance and an activity with a set time.
Experience winegrowing at local estates
Domaine Masson offers a cellar visit followed by a tasting of six cuvées. Its vineyards cover more than 20 hectares at the foot of the Bessillon massif. At Bastide de Fave, the offer includes a visit to the estate and a wine tasting, both by prior arrangement. Domaine de Cantarelle offers estate visits from Monday to Friday by prior reservation.
The visits therefore differ in their format and booking conditions: a cellar visit followed by a tasting at Masson, an estate tour and wine tasting by arrangement at Bastide de Fave, and weekday visits by reservation at Cantarelle. Together with the circular trail, winegrowing offers two perspectives on a stay: as the theme of a route and as a reason to visit an estate.
Discover more destinations: Fayence, Callian, Mons, La Garde-Freinet, Pignans, Cavalaire-Sur-Mer, Figanieres, Tourrettes.
For the regional travel overview: Var.
