Tavernes lies on an agricultural plain dotted with vineyards and olive trees. Olive oil, a church with a long history of construction and well-defined trails give you different starting points for planning your stay: you can choose a hike to the chapel, a detour to a viewpoint or an experience more closely connected with local olive oil production.
Discover olive oil in Tavernes
At La Tavernaise in Tavernes, the offerings include guided tours of the olive mill, tastings and olive oil sales. The company produces French extra virgin olive oil in green-fruity, ripe-fruity and traditional styles, as well as flavoured oils. La Tavernaise has held the AOP Provence designation since 2008 and has been certified organic since 2009.
A recurring event celebrating olive oil is the Journado de l’Oli: each year in March, the new olive oil is celebrated there. The specific event dates may vary. The programme described includes a tour of the mill and a tasting of primeur olive oil. There are also regional products, folk performances, a demonstration of olive tree pruning and a large Aïoli meal. If you would like to plan your stay around this festival, check the dates before making your travel plans.
Saint-Cassien Church and its history of construction
Saint-Cassien Church in Tavernes is first mentioned as early as the 11th century. After being badly damaged during the Wars of Religion, it was rebuilt in the 17th century; the bell tower was rebuilt in the early 19th century. This sequence reveals several important phases of construction: the early mention was followed by the rebuilding of the church and, later, the reconstruction of the tower. The church thus offers a tangible way to explore the history of the village, without requiring a longer excursion.
Hike to the chapel or the viewpoint
The “Des pierres et des jeux” hiking route follows the Chemin de Notre-Dame to the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel. It is 6.5 kilometres long, takes about three hours, climbs 270 metres and is rated easy. This gives you the approximate duration, distance, ascent and difficulty level you need to plan your day.
The hike can be extended by three kilometres for the round trip to the Trois Croix viewpoint. There, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama from an altitude of 690 metres, along with orientation tables. You can add this viewpoint to the route if the extra distance and panoramic view appeal to you. This extension is a specific alternative to the shorter hike; no separate duration is provided for it.
More ways to get active: pump track and bike ride
Only mountain bikes, BMX bikes, balance bikes, scooters and skateboards are permitted on the Tavernes pump track. The permitted vehicles are therefore limited to the listed non-motorised or electric options. Bear this restriction in mind when planning if you intend to use the track with a particular vehicle.
The “Au pied des campaniles à vélo” bike ride goes to Tavernes, detours to the olive mill and then continues through the village. Route information updated on 5 August 2026 included a notice that the route was temporarily inaccessible in connection with the fire in Pontevès on 21 July 2026. Check the current route status before making plans. This allows you to consider the bike ride as a possible link between the village and the olive mill without interpreting the earlier notice as a statement about current accessibility.
Discover more destinations: La Bastide, Vins-Sur-Caramy, Vidauban, Tourtour, Regusse, Meounes-Les-Montrieux, Camps-La-Source, Artignosc-Sur-Verdon.
For the broader travel overview: Var.
