Villecroze Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Var (83690) Population: 1030 Altitude: 350 m Nearby: [ Aups 8 km | Cotignac 15 | Flayosc 14 | Tourtour 6 ] Below: [ History | Dates | Académie Musicale | Dining | Wine | Hiking ] This perched, medieval village is established around a group of caves, some of which are used as dwellings. The main village has a large, shaded square, for parking, playing "pétanque", or sitting at one of the many outdoor café-restaurants. The "vieille ville" (old town) is meticulously restored, with many of the original arched walls remaining. The "grottes troglodytes" at the edge of the village are in a series of "tuff" cliffs, a very porous, volcanic rock. The site is now part of a municipal park, well landscaped with lawn, pools, plants and trees. A 40m waterfall cascades down the front of the cliffs to one side, while a series of little paths wind up the cliff face further to the right. The park is open every day, but entrance into the caves is only during May-September. History Prehistoric: This was a neolithique site, and there are vestiges and many nearby locations. First record, 1065: Castrum de villa Crosa. Medieval: co-ruled by the Seigneurs (Lords) de Castellane and the Abbey St. Victor de Marseilles. Before the revolution, the commune was co-ruled by the Galiens, the Abbey St. Victor and the Order of Malta. The commune prospered until the 11th century, when it was devastated by Saracen raids. Dates, Numbers Foires: 28 Feb, 11 Nov. Fête: St. Romain, Sunday following 8 Aug. Mairie: Tel: (33) 494 70 63 06; Fax: (33) 494 67 53 29 Académie Musicale Address: Rue roger Maurice Fax: (33) 494 67 55 21 Adiministration, Tel: (33) 494 85 91 00 Bibliothèque Musicale: Tel: (33) 494 85 91 02 Dining Reader Barbara reported on the Beyond Forum: Try Au Bien Etre, it's an auberge south of Villecroze on the road to Tourtours. Wonderful hospitality and food to match. Very reasonable. Wine Villecroze is in the region of the Côte de Provence wines, and the smaller region of the appellation Coteaux Varois. Hiking Maps: IGN 3443 ouest (1:25,000); Didier Richard #25 (1:50,000). There are several hiking trails in the hills and valleys surrounding the village, 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.