Tourtour Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Var (83690) Population: 472 Altitude: 650 m Nearby: [ Aups 10 km | Cotignac 21 | Flayosc 15 | Villecroze 6 ] Photos: Mairie in the medieval chateau (26 k) Below: [ History | Dates | Hiking ] This medieval perched village has a magnificant view out across the surrounding countryside, especially from the low hill where the restored 19th-century church and cemetery sit. The hillsides are all forested, and you can identify distant, lower villages with the help of the "table d'orientation", and if it's clear you can the Maures, the Luberon, Ste. Baume and the Ste. Victoire near Aix-en-Provence. Tourtour is nicknamed the "village dans le ciel", or village in the sky; viewed from afar it seems to sit on top of the horizon dominating the rest of the landscape. The village is picturesque, with the road from the southeast entering through an arch (photo above). The center square is well shaded, including by a some emormous olive trees. The "oliviers" replace a pair of enormous elms planted in 1638 when Anne d'Autriche stopped on her pilgramage to Cotignac. There's a 17th-century "Moulin à huile" (oil mill) in the village, and a "lavoir" on the rue de le Lavoir going out of the village to the north. The village center also includes an imposing 16th-century chateau with massive round towers at each corner (one dating to the 12th century). The chateau is ancient, well restored, and in use: one side houses the Mairie and another houses the post office. Name First record, 4th century: Pontus Tortorii; 12th century: Tortor. History Prehistoric: There are traces of prehistoric man at Arquinaud. Roman: this region has been inhabited since antiquity. There are Gallo-Roman ruins at Colombier, Evoué, St. Pierre and Treilles. In the small Vlorièye valley alone there were five oppidums and a Roman guard post. The Aurelian Way (Voie Aurélienne) passed by, and can still be seen about a km east of the village. Medieval: In 739, Charles Martel met the Saracens. In the 12th century, the Cistercian abbey was established at Esprains and then Florièye; this was later moved to Thoronet, where you can see it today. In the 13th century, the Seigneurie des Blacas ruled, followed by Puget and Esparron. In the 17th century, five Seigneurs (Lords) shared the rule. Dates Fête: 4 Sept; fête folklorique: first Sunday in Aug. Hiking Maps: IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3444 est "Draguignan" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #25 "Maures, Haut-Pays Varois" Michelin "green" #114 (1/100,000) - "French Riviera - Var" There are several hiking trails in the hills and valleys surrounding Tourtour, with many loop possibilities. Some of the trails pass through the line of villages: Sillans, Salernes, Villecroze, Tourtour and Ampus. The forested hills to the northwest and southeast are also have several marked trails.