Between Village History and Routes Through the Landscape
Pourrières can be explored from two different perspectives: historic sites and routes through vineyards, forest or garrigue. When planning a stay, it helps to distinguish between these interests. The village’s history brings together medieval connections and much older traces of settlement; the routes offer everything from lanes and panoramic views to vineyards, forest landscapes and a medieval ruin. You can choose the focus of your trip according to what interests you most on site.
Church, Monastery and Older Traces of Settlement
Notre-Dame-du-Bois is probably one of the earliest medieval churches in the Pourrières area. It is documented in 1065 under the name “sancte Maria a salto.” The Couvent des Minimes was built next to the church and completed in 1578. Those interested in historic buildings can visit both a church and the monastery built beside it. The church’s approximate dating and the specifically documented year 1065 are two distinct historical reference points.
Pain de Munition offers a glimpse into a much older settlement history: the site is a historic oppidum in Pourrières, where the remains of an oppidum built around 2,400 years ago have been preserved. Together with Notre-Dame-du-Bois, it presents a contrast between archaeological traces and medieval architectural history. If you are interested in both, the sites offer different ways to explore Pourrières’ past.
A Walk with Clearly Defined Details
“À la découverte du vieux village” is a clearly defined circular route through Pourrières: this easy walk starts in the village, is 1.5 kilometres long and takes 45 minutes. It leads through the authentic lanes of the old village and offers panoramic views of the Arc plain, the Sainte-Victoire massif, the Monts Auréliens and the Massif de l'Étoile. The walk combines a stroll through the lanes with views of several named landscapes. Its distance and duration give you a concrete guide when planning this walk into your day.
Routes Through Vineyards and Forest Landscapes
The Sentier des vignerons de Pourrières is a hiking trail through the vineyards. If you are looking for a route with a particular connection to the vineyards, that is its defining feature. La Palière offers a different landscape: it runs through the municipal forest of Pourrières, following forest tracks and paths, and offers views of the surrounding massifs. It also passes the Espace Naturel Sensible La Renardière. La Palière can therefore be identified by its forest route, the views and the named natural area, while the vineyards are the explicitly described focus of the Sentier des vignerons.
The Sentier de l'Aubanède combines forest and garrigue. The route passes through both landscape types to the ruins of the medieval Château de Roquefeuille and offers views of the Arc Valley and the striking Sainte-Victoire mountain range. In contrast to La Palière, this route also features ruins as a destination at the end of the trail. If you enjoy combining natural scenery with a historical destination, you can choose the Aubanède for precisely this combination.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
If you are looking for accommodation in Pourrières, you can start by considering which aspects of the village match your travel interests: architectural and settlement history, a short walk with a set time frame, or routes through different landscapes. The village walk is particularly easy to plan, with its difficulty, distance and duration specified. For the other routes, the landscapes and destinations described for each can help you choose.
Discover more destinations: Cavalaire-Sur-Mer, Belgentier, Sillans-La Cascade, Seillons-Source-D'argens, Barjols, Giens, Solliès-Pont, Cotignac.
Return to the main travel overview: Var.
