La Bastide lies at the foot of Mont Lachens, which, at 1,715 m, is considered the highest peak in the Var. Two distinct themes come together for a stay here: hiking in the mountain landscapes and the history of the village. In the village itself, the D21 divides the lower and upper parts. This gives you a clear starting point for planning: the hikes have their own starting points and scenery, while the church, former château and washhouse are the focus of the village’s history.
Hiking on Brouis or to the Sommet de Lachens
The “Le tour du Brouis” hike starts and ends at the Col de Clavel between La Bastide and La Martre. The trailhead is 2 km from the village and can be reached via the D21 towards Logis du Pin. The route takes in Brouis mountain, with its old, remarkable forests and secluded clearings. Open landscapes and views of the surrounding peaks alternate with wooded sections, giving the route a variety of scenery.
The “LA BASTIDE – Sommet de Lachens” hike starts at the church square and initially follows the GR®49, marked in white and red, to the upper edge of the village. The end of the paved section is 300 m from the starting point. The route leads to an information board at 1,685 m and ends at a summit directly opposite Mont Lachens’ highest point, at 1,715 m. The elevations refer to different points: 1,685 m to the board and 1,715 m to the highest point of Mont Lachens.
Different details can help you choose between the two hikes: on Brouis, the focus is on the changing forest, clearings and open views. On the route to the Sommet de Lachens, the starting point at the church square, the GR®49 markings and the elevations are key reference points. This makes it easy to distinguish the trails by their named starting points and landscape features.
Church, Settlement History and Architecture
The Church of Sainte-Madeleine stands on a hilltop in the centre of the village, near the former château, which is now used as the town hall. The present-day church was probably built in 1676; a pastoral visitation on 9 and 10 October 1703 supports this dating. Its structure comprises a single church nave with a groin vault, a flat chancel termination and a gilded altarpiece on the high altar.
The early settlement history is also associated with several names: the first documented references to the “bourg castral de la Bastide d’Esclapon,” also called “castrum de Bastida,” date from 1232 to 1244; one entry is dated 1235. Together with the church’s location near the former château, these names and dates form a distinct historical focus alongside the hikes. The church’s architectural features offer a closer look at its design: the nave’s vault, the flat chancel termination and the gilded altarpiece.
The Fontaine-lavoir du bas
The Fontaine-lavoir du bas adds a covered washhouse with three basins to the village’s history: one for rinsing, one for washing and one for especially dirty laundry. An oval basin was carved from a single block of stone. The washhouse was restored in 1926. Here, the practical use of the three basins goes hand in hand with a distinctive architectural detail: the single block of stone gives the oval basin its shape, while the three basins serve different washing functions.
Discover more destinations: Tourtour, Flayosc, Barjols, Gonfaron, Callian, Grimaud, Nans-Les-Pins, La Farlede
See the main travel overview: Var.
