Entrecasteaux is the kind of village that reveals itself slowly — over a café au lait in the square, a walk beneath the plane trees, a glimpse of the château through a stone archway. Hidden in the heart of the Var, it combines old-world grandeur with the easy warmth of a place where everyone knows each other and the baker still closes for lunch.

The centrepiece is the Renaissance château, an elegant pile that presides over the village with quiet authority. Its formal gardens — designed by Le Nôtre, no less — add a touch of Versailles to the Provençal countryside.

A Château at the Heart of Things

The Château d'Entrecasteaux dominates the village skyline — a 17th-century manor built on medieval foundations, with a grand façade and terraced gardens that cascade toward the river below. Visits are possible in season, and the gardens alone are worth the detour: clipped hedges, stone balustrades, and fountains set against the backdrop of the Provençal hills.

Below the château, the village unfolds in cobbled lanes, artisan workshops, and squares shaded by some of the most magnificent plane trees in the Var — ancient, spreading canopies that turn the main square into a natural cathedral.

Truffle Country

Entrecasteaux sits in the Var's truffle heartland, and the winter truffle markets are a local institution. Black truffles, truffle oil, truffle honey, truffle everything — the season runs from November to March, and the village's restaurants serve truffle-scented dishes that justify the drive alone.

Outside truffle season, the weekly market brings local wines, olive oil, cheese, and seasonal produce. The surrounding countryside is perfect for gentle walks along the river and through olive groves.

Practical Information

Getting there: About 1h15 from Toulon via the A8 and D50. Free parking near the château.

Best time to visit: Winter for truffles. Spring and autumn for gardens and walking. Summer for market mornings.

Don't miss: The château and gardens, the plane tree square for coffee, and truffle specialities in season.

Mauricette's Tip

Combine Entrecasteaux with Cotignac (15 minutes away) for a perfect Var village double-bill. Château gardens in the morning, cliff-side café in the afternoon.

Renaissance châteaux and truffle-scented country — Villa Mauricette is your gateway to the Var's most refined rural escapes.