What to do in Lorgues, between old stones and the green Provence
Medieval lanes, century-old plane trees, a Provençal market and vineyards as far as the eye can see: Lorgues is best explored slowly. Here are our ideas for a good day out — and a table to stop at, in a house built in 1780.
A village of character in the heart of the green Provence
About fifteen minutes from Draguignan, Lorgues unfolds its old town around the Saint-Martin collegiate church and its fountains. You wander beneath the plane trees of the cours de la République, push open a door, look up at a flowered façade.
Here, Provence is no picture-postcard set: it's a way of life, between the morning market, the vines of the Côtes de Provence and the silvery olive trees. Take your time — that's the whole point of the place.
Lorgues, at a slow pace.
Five ways to taste Lorgues
The old town
Cobbled lanes, vaulted passages, fountains and the Saint-Martin collegiate church: the medieval heart is best walked on foot, with no fixed plan.
The Tuesday market
The great Provençal market takes over the centre every Tuesday morning: fresh produce, cheeses, olives, soaps — and the accent to match.
The Côtes de Provence
Wine estates ring the village. Rosé tastings at the cellar, a day among the vines: the wine road starts just steps away.
Truffle & olive
Lorgues is a land of truffle growers and olive mills. In winter, the truffle markets bring the whole Dracénie area to life.
Walks & heritage
Secluded chapels, olive groves, trails towards the Thoronet abbey: the surroundings are made for gentle hikes and cycling alike.
Here, you don't sightsee: you take your time
A coffee in the shade, a nap on a bench, a lunch that drifts on into the middle of the afternoon. In Lorgues, the best programme is often to have none at all — letting the light of the Var and the scent of sun-warmed plane trees drift by.
Between two visits, a table to set your travel notes on
After the market or a tasting at an estate, take a seat at our table: France & World fusion cuisine, homemade, with a menu renewed every week and seasonal produce from the Var.
You lunch in the hidden garden, in the shade of the olive tree, or in a vintage lounge full of finds. It's also a gallery and an antiques market: art comes to the table, from the lounge wall to the garden paths.
We'll keep a table for you.
Plan your day in Lorgues
We've gathered our best ideas for strolls and addresses in our journal — and for the gourmet stop, everything is arranged here:
Your questions about visiting Lorgues
What can you see in Lorgues in one day?
The old town and the Saint-Martin collegiate church in the morning, the Tuesday market if you catch the right day, then a Côtes de Provence wine estate in the afternoon — all broken up by a long lunch on the terrace.
When is the Lorgues market held?
The great Provençal market takes place every Tuesday morning in the village centre. You'll find fresh produce, local specialities, olives, cheeses and crafts.
Can you visit vineyards around Lorgues?
Yes: Lorgues sits at the heart of the Côtes de Provence appellation. Several estates offer tastings and direct sales just minutes from the village.
Where can you have lunch or dinner in Lorgues?
At Carnets de Voyage, 12 avenue Allongue: France & World fusion cuisine made in-house, a terrace and a hidden garden in a 1780 house. Booking recommended.
What is there to do around Lorgues?
The Thoronet abbey, the hilltop villages of Cotignac or Tourtour, and the gorges and lakes of the Verdon further north: the green Provence is worth discovering over several days.
Leaf through this week's menu, then book your table in our 1780 house, right in the heart of the village.