Bargemon Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Var (83830) Population: 1070 Altitude: 416 m Nearby: [ Bargème | Callas | Claviers | Comps-sur-Artuby | Seillans | Montferrat ] Photos: Looking south over the village, with Callas in the distance. (26k) Looking north, Bargemon sits below the Col du Bel Homme. (23k) The fountain in the village center, with harsh winter shadows. (25k) Below: [ History | Dates | Favorite Sons | Dining | Hiking | Lodging ] This was an ancient fortified village, sitting at the base of the Var Prealps. Coming in from the north on the D25 (that crosses the huge military base of Canjuers, with occasional army tanks crossing), the road goes over the Col du Bel Homme (915 m). At the Col du Bel Homme (915 m), there's a magnificent view of the valleys and mountains to the south (in a panorama from east to west), including the Mediterranean sea and far villages nestled in the hills and on the coast. If that's not enough, a small lane to the west goes about a km (a 15-minute walk) to the orientation table at the Blaque Meyanne peak (1033 m) where the view is even more magnificent. As the road winds down the mountainside, there's an excellent aerial view of Bargemon and the village of Claviers further to the south. Bargemon village has an ancient feel to it. The streets are narrow and the many squares with flowing fountains are heavily shaded. The buildings are old, and there are many examples of the past here, including the 12th-century church built into the old defensive wall of the village. Bargemon is known for its pure water and its climate and, like some of the other villages of this region, has olive-oil mills and honey. Name First record, 814: Bergemulum, and 11th century: Barjamo. History Prehistoric: There are neolithic vestiges in the Grotte de Belhomme, on the mountainside north of the village. Medieval: belonged to the kings of Arles in the 10th century. In the 13th century, Bargemon was the original fief of Villeneuve, who played an important part in the history of the Provence. The Chateau de Favas (3 km west of the village on the D19) belonged to the Hospitalers in the 13th century. Dates Fête: first Sunday after 3 August Favorite sons of Bargemon include: Christophe-1ere de Villeneuve-Vauclose, who prevented the Saint Bartholomew's Day festivities in Provence; Abbé Moreri (1643-1680) who wrote an historical dictionary; Guilhem de Bargemon, a troubadour (1285); Philippe Chauvier, a Provençal poet (1903); Antoine d'Argbaud, Bishop of Sisteron. Dining We haven't tried the restaurants in Bargemon, but here's a list of them: L'Arlequin Restaurant pl Philippe Chauvier Tel: (33) 04 94 76 69 09 Maître Blanc 1 rue Jean Jaurès Tel: (33) 04 94 76 60 24 Le Méditerranée 4 rue Résistance Tel: (33) 04 94 76 75 90 Pierrot Taverne Auberge pl Philippe Chauvier Tel: (33) 04 94 76 62 19 Auberge des Arcades Hotel av Pasteur Tel: (33) 04 94 76 60 36; Fax: (33) 04 94 76 68 33 Hiking Maps: IGN (1:25,000) 3543 ouest "seillans"; Didier Richard (1:50,000) #25 "Maures, Haut-Pays Varois" There are several hiking trails outside the village that go through the heavily forested hills. To the west there are several loop-hike possibilities; the trails go through the Bois de Favas towards the villages of Montferrat and Chateaudouble, and Callas to the south. There are also loop possibilities to the east, where the trails go to Callas in the south and to St. Arnoux and Seillans in the east. Lodging Listing available