Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
West of Draguignan
LORGUES
Bustling Lorgues is fountain-filled, and the
tourist office
( 04 94 73 92 37;
9am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Sat)
, near the southern entrance to
town, has maps of walks.
The simplest in a trio of great Cistercian abbeys (the other two are Silvacane and Notre-
Dame de Sénanque), uninhabited
Abbaye de Thoronet
( 04 94 60 43 90;
http://thoronet.monuments-nationaux.fr
;
Le Thoronet; adult/child €7.50/free;
10am-6.30pm Mon-Sat, 10am-noon & 2-6.30pm Sun)
, 12km southwest of Lorgues, was
built between 1160 and 1190. It's remarkable for its ultra-austere architecture: pure pro-
portions, perfectly dressed stone and the subtle fall of light and shadow are where its
beauty lies.
France's most famous truffle restaurant,
Chez Bruno
( 04 94 85 93 93;
www.restaurantbruno.com
;
rte des Arcs, D10; menus €68-135; lunch & dinner daily
Jun-mid-Sep, closed Mon mid-Sep-May)
, can be found in a country house 2.5km south-
east of Lorgues. In his Michelin-starred restaurant, celebrity chef Bruno Clément cooks al-
most exclusively with those knobbly, pungent delicacies: he goes through an incredible
1000kg of the world's most expensive foodstuff every year. Should you not be able to
move after your black-diamond feast, stay in one of Bruno's six lovely
rooms
(rte des
Arcs, D10; d from €150)
.
TOURTOUR
Tourtour is a beautiful amber-stoned village with a churchyard stretching across a
promontory offering panoramic views. It makes a handy place to break your journey,
stroll the cobbled lanes, or indulge your truffle fancy.
Sleeping & Eating
Maison de la Treille €€
( 04 94 70 59 29;
www.tourtour.fr
; rue Grande 22, Tourtour; d incl breakfast €90;
Mar-Nov; )
The hefty brass knocker piercing the olive-green front door, the lush bush
of lavender outside and the covered breakfast terrace on the top floor immediately catch
the eye at this charming
maison d'hôte
in one of the Northern Var's most beautiful hilltop
villages.
B&B
