Villecroze can be explored through several clearly distinct themes: the car-free old town, the Grottes fortifiées and the Parc de Villecroze at the foot of the tufa cliffs. There is also a themed walking tour through the village and a hike along the stream. This offers different options when choosing where to stay, from architecture and caves to the surrounding landscape.

Old Town, Arcades and Squares

The car-free old town features vaulted passageways, arcades, flower-filled squares and fountains. Rue des Arcades is a typical street in the medieval quarter. Together, these offer several distinct features of the village’s character: vaulted passageways and arcades on the one hand, squares and fountains on the other. If you are interested in historic town centres, you can broaden your focus from individual caves to Villecroze’s streets and public spaces.

The Grottes fortifiées

A visit to the Grottes fortifiées de Villecroze takes you through five levels. Since 1924, they have been classified as “Sites et Monuments Naturels.” The levels describe the course of the visit, while the classification is the caves’ official designation. Taking both into account when choosing where to stay combines a specific aspect of the visit with the site’s status as a natural monument.

Park, Cliffs and Water

The Parc de Villecroze covers 2.5 hectares and is wooded; it lies at the foot of the tufa cliffs in which the troglodytic caves were created. A 35-metre-high waterfall flows along the cliff face and then into the stream that runs through the park. Villecroze is also part of the Natura 2000 site “Sources et tufs du Haut-Var.” The park and the site designation offer two different perspectives on the landscape: the specific features of a named place and Villecroze’s inclusion in a larger protected area.

Walking Tours and Hiking Trails

The Circuit de l’art sacré in Villecroze is an approximately 5-kilometre circular route to the village’s oratories, crosses and chapels. The “Cascade de paysages” hike follows a different route, running alongside the stream that feeds the waterfall in the Parc de Villecroze. The Villecroze Tourist Office provides information about signposted hiking trails for download. If you would like to include more hikes in your plans, you can use this information as a guide.

To choose between the experiences, compare their formats: the Circuit visits religious sites in the village, “Cascade de paysages” follows the stream, and the cave visit takes you through five levels. The options range from a themed circular route and a streamside hike to a multi-level visit.

Villecroze Provençal Market

A tourist description dated 22 February 2024 lists the Villecroze Provençal Market as taking place year-round on Thursday mornings. If you plan to visit the market, check the current date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Vinon-Sur-Verdon, Tourves, Boulouris-Sur-Mer, La Garde-Freinet, Le Revest-Les-Eaux, Les Arcs Sur Argens, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Mer, Sainte-Maxime

For the broader travel overview: Var.