The historic village of Le Castellet can only be reached through two fortified gates. In the village, the Church of Saint-Sauveur de la Transfiguration and the grand Château du Castellet represent distinct historical periods. Below the village, vineyards and olive groves stretch as far as the eye can see. This makes it possible to consider local history and landscape as two clearly distinct highlights of a stay. Visitors can also discover winemaking, barrel-making and film history, as well as enjoy a walk among the vineyards.

Architecture and Film History

The grand Château du Castellet was built in the 15th century. The Church of Saint-Sauveur de la Transfiguration dates back further: it was built by the Diocese of Marseille in 1030. The two named buildings reflect this span of time. Another way to explore the village’s history is through film: Marcel Pagnol chose Le Castellet as a filming location for “La femme du boulanger” in 1938. The architectural history and film connection complement one another without representing the same period.

The tourist office organizes free guided tours of the village for groups of four or more. Reservations are required at 04 94 32 79 13; check the reservation details before your trip. This allows you to connect the tour with whichever historical topics interest you most.

Winery, Museum and Market

At the Ray-Jane Ecomuseum, visitors can tour the winery and the Domaine Ray-Jane Museum. The ecomuseum houses more than 30,000 tools, including tools used in barrel-making and winemaking. These two fields of work extend the focus beyond wine to the making and use of barrels. Those interested in the craft side of winemaking will find a distinct way to explore it through the collection, in addition to visiting the winery.

The Le Castellet market also highlights local production: it holds the “Marché de Producteurs de Pays” label. The label is intended to guarantee that the products on offer come directly from producers, without intermediaries. This puts the direct provenance of the products at the heart of a visit to the market.

Wine Country on Foot and by Bike

Below Le Castellet, vineyards and olive groves stretch to the horizon. The route known as the “Chemin des oratoires” near Sainte-Anne offers a walk through the landscape among vineyards. The route therefore focuses specifically on winemaking; the landscape below the village also includes olive groves.

For gravel cycling, there is a choice of eleven routes between the sea and the vineyards. They cover Bandol, La Cadière d’Azur, Le Castellet, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Sanary-sur-Mer. This is a different way to plan an outing from walking the named route: here, you can choose from several routes with different named destinations. When comparing the options, consider whether you would prefer a walk among vineyards or one of the gravel routes on offer.

Discover more destinations: Callian, La Martre, Tourtour, Chateaudouble, Châteauvert, Signes, Bagnols-En-Forêt, Puget-Ville.

For the broader travel overview: Var.