La Martre lies in the heart of the Verdon Regional Natural Park and is also a stop on the Route Napoléon. These provide two points of reference for a stay: a natural setting and a historical travel connection. The Forêt du Brouis and several architectural and cultural landmarks give these themes specific names. Nature and local history are distinct areas of focus.

Natural setting and route

The Forêt du Brouis is home to a wide variety of animal and plant species and includes beech and silver fir forests. The natural park provides the broader setting; the Forêt du Brouis identifies a specific woodland area. The connection with nature can therefore be understood both through La Martre’s location in the Verdon Regional Natural Park and through the variety of species and the named forest types.

Buildings and local history

The Pont de la Serre, also known as the Pont de Madame, is a single-arch bridge built over the Artuby in the 18th century. Its name, design and connection to the river give the structure specific characteristics. Only a few masonry remains of the Scierie du Mont Brouis survive; the positions of the former windows are still visible. The focus here is therefore on surviving parts and visible traces, not on a fully preserved sawmill.

The other cultural landmarks also differ in form and historical period. The Fontaine de La Martre is documented as far back as 1842 and was restored in 1909. An oratory is located inside the apse of the ruins of the former Sainte-Marthe chapel. The Eglise de la Purification contains a wooden statue of the Virgin with a sword, dating from the 12th century. Together, these landmarks range from a restored fountain to an oratory in chapel ruins and a medieval statue.

Another historical connection is tied to a precise date: on his return to Paris, Napoleon I stopped at the Logis du Pin inn, within the municipality of La Martre, on 3 March 1815. This stop adds a single dated event to the local history, making it distinct from the architectural and cultural landmarks associated with longer periods.

Routes and crafts

The Route de l’Histoire et des Légendes passes through La Martre and other municipalities in the area, including Châteauvieux, Brenon, Le Bourguet, Trigance, Comps-sur-Artuby, Bargème, La Roque-Esclapon and La Bastide. The two route connections answer different questions about orientation: La Martre is a stop on the Route Napoléon, while the Route de l’Histoire et des Légendes also passes through several municipalities named here.

At Château Rima, Françoise, a basket maker, offers workshops and introduces visitors to her craft. This adds a craft-related theme to nature and local history. The offer may be subject to schedule changes. If a workshop is important to your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

When choosing where to stay, you can weigh these areas of focus against one another: the natural park and forest, the historic buildings and local history, and the craft. The routes provide different points of reference, while the workshop offers a specific activity that depends on the schedule.

Discover more destinations: Entrecasteaux, Gassin, Montfort-Sur-Argens, Saint-Zacharie, Le Muy, Fréjus, Barjols, Solliès-Ville.

For the broader travel overview: Var.