In Montferrat, paths lead uphill to the Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel; in the village, you will also encounter traces of religious history and historic water engineering. For planning, it is worth looking at the different route descriptions: the family hike to the chapel follows the Chemin des oratoires, while the Chemin Saint-Pierre connects the village with nature and also leads to the chapel.

Paths to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir

The Montferrat–Notre-Dame de Beauvoir family hike follows the Chemin des oratoires uphill to the chapel. The Chemin Saint-Pierre leads there from the village through the natural landscape. It is paved and lined with old wayside shrines. These differences help with orientation: one route is named for and follows the Chemin des oratoires, while the other is a paved path lined with its shrines. At the start of the path to the chapel stands the Saint-Jacques wayside shrine, built of dressed stone. The chapel is at an elevation of 660 metres; its location is associated with Roman settlement.

There is a car park at the entrance to the village, above the stadium, for the hike to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir. The shrines along the Chemin Saint-Pierre are dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Francis of Paola, Saint Joseph and Notre-Dame. Anyone interested in religious buildings and historic route features can view the chapel not only as a destination, but also in connection with the stops along the way.

Traces of the Village’s History

Different periods can also be read in the village through specific places. Only a few remains of the former village fortifications survive at the entrance to the main street. Saint-Roch Church was home to the Brotherhood of the White Penitents, founded in 1646. Classified objects in the church include a holy-water stoup made of white marble and a wooden sculpture of Saint Roch with his dog. Both date from the 16th century.

Another historic feature is the Montferrat fountain, dating from 1751. It is fed by the Pierrepont spring; water reaches the fountain through an underground aqueduct one kilometre long. The structure thus connects a visible place in the village with a water conduit whose course lies underground. Visitors who enjoy taking a closer look at historic details will find here, alongside the churches and wayside shrines, an example of how water supply is woven into the village’s history.

Two pilgrimages have different historical contexts. The pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir takes place every year on 14 August; confirm the date locally before planning your visit. The former pilgrimage to Saint Fortunat originated with the solemn reception of the saint’s relics on 3 October 1694. It is part of the village’s history and should not be confused with the annual date given for Notre-Dame de Beauvoir.

The Nartuby, Pierrepont and the Surrounding Area

Montferrat’s houses stretch along the banks of the Nartuby. Pierrepont offers a different view of the landscape: its natural setting is just a few minutes’ walk from the village. At the site, a clear, cool river invites quiet contemplation. The village and the riverside landscape therefore offer different points of interest, without requiring a specific itinerary.

Montferrat is also one of the communes along the Route de l’Olivier du Haut-Var. Its connection to the route adds a regional trail to the area’s cultural and natural attractions. If you would like to combine several interests when planning your trip, you can consider the village’s history, the chapel trails and Pierrepont as different reasons to visit.

Crafts and Provençal Honey

Savonnerie de la Nartuby makes cold-process and kettle-soaped soaps. The soaps are shaped, cut and packaged by hand. The production area is not open to the public. The products are available online, through retail outlets, and at trade fairs and markets. This offers a glimpse into the craft without requiring you to plan a visit to the production area.

Le Rucher de Montfé offers a selection of Provençal honeys in Montferrat. Its offerings include honey-product tastings, farm-gate sales and sales at markets. Check in advance for current arrangements. This offers a chance to discover two different aspects of the local offer: soapmaking on the one hand, and regional honey products and tastings on the other.

Discover more destinations: Villecroze, Bargème, Les Arcs Sur Argens, Pourrières, Le Muy, La Valette-Du-Var, Tanneron, Sainte-Maxime

See the broader travel overview: Var.