The history of Lorgues spans everything from a fortified Ligurian settlement to chapels, a collegiate church and medieval defensive structures. It also includes the later use of a fountain as a washhouse. This offers different ways to plan a trip: sacred art and architecture, medieval local history, or a hike with a stated duration.
Chapels, Church and Sacred Art
The chapels span several different centuries. Chapelle Notre-Dame de Belval has been listed as a historic monument since 25 April 1929. Chapelle Saint-François was built by the Grey Penitents between 1633 and 1640. Chapelle Notre-Dame de Benva dates from the 15th century and has frescoes listed as historic monuments. Taken together, they span from a 15th-century chapel to a 17th-century building and Belval’s protected status, which has been in place since 1929. The Benva frescoes add a specific artistic dimension to the history of the buildings.
Collégiale Saint-Martin is also listed as a historic monument; it was built between 1704 and 1729. It houses an organ that is likewise listed as a historic monument. The organ builder Augustin Zeiger built it to his own design in 1837. This makes it possible to distinguish the construction period of the church from the later history of its organ. For a visit focused on sacred architecture and art history, the church and its organ offer two distinct historical points of interest.
Medieval Routes and Older Settlement Traces
Porte Sarrasine was part of the defensive complex built by the Templars. It also stood along a medieval route between Brignoles and Grasse, used by merchants, pilgrims and soldiers. The gate can therefore be understood both through its defensive role and through the travellers who journeyed along the route.
The Oppidum of Saint-Ferréol tells a much older story: it is a fortified Ligurian settlement dating to around the 4th century BC, excavated in 1977. In contrast with the medieval Porte Sarrasine, it centres on an ancient settlement. Anyone wishing to discover Lorgues through its historical remains will find different periods and forms of human settlement here, without collapsing them into a single building history.
The History of a Fountain, Summer Tours and a Hike
Fontaine de la Pompe connects local history with a later everyday use. During the siege in 1579, it saved the inhabitants from dying of thirst. Later, the fountain was converted into a washhouse for local residents. The basin of the fountain and washhouse was rebuilt in the 19th century. This sequence traces the fountain’s significance during the siege and its later use as a washhouse.
The Amis de Saint-Ferréol et du Vieux Lorgues offer tours throughout the summer of the old town, Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Ben-Va and the Hermitage of Saint-Ferréol, as well as its museum of sacred art. Dates and access conditions may vary; if you plan to join a tour, check the details in advance. This makes the seasonal tour a distinct option alongside the historic buildings and works of art.
Another option is La campagne de Pey-Cervier: this is an easy, 5.4-kilometre family hiking trail with 150 metres of elevation gain. The stated duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Check trail conditions locally before setting out. The stated distance, elevation gain and duration can help you assess the time and physical effort involved in this hike.
The options differ mainly in their character and conditions: tours are offered in summer, the historic sites tell stories of different periods, and the hiking trail has a stated length and duration. This can help you decide whether you want your stay to focus more on a guided tour, architectural and local history, or a hike.
Discover more destinations: Camps-La-Source, Le Beausset, Cotignac, La Martre, Vins-Sur-Caramy, Tourves, Châteauvert, Brignoles.
For the broader travel overview: Var.
