Gourmet weekend in the Var (week-end gastronomique Var): a 2-day itinerary between Lorgues, Provence Verte and vineyards
Forty-eight hours built around the table: market, shaded lunch, vineyards, and a dinner that travels. With Lorgues as your base.
The inland Var, Dracénie and Provence Verte, is best enjoyed at the table rather than on the coast.
Lorgues is the ideal base: Draguignan, Cotignac, Le Thoronet, Salernes and Taradeau are 10 to 20 minutes away.
- A gourmet weekend in the Var works best inland, with Lorgues as a base.
- Day 1: market (Tuesday morning in Lorgues), terrace lunch, vineyards, Le Thoronet abbey, fusion dinner. Day 2: Cotignac, Salernes, Draguignan.
- Book small restaurants by phone, especially at weekends.
Planning your gourmet weekend in the Var
When to come, where to stay, and how to secure your tables.
Which season
Spring for markets, summer for terraces, harvest time for the vineyards, winter for truffles and olives. Check event dates with tourist offices.
Lorgues as your base
Le Thoronet and Taradeau about 10 minutes away, Draguignan and Salernes 15, Cotignac 20.
Travel times are detailed on our page about our restaurant in the inland Var.
Book ahead
Small places fill up fast on Saturdays. A phone call remains the best way.
Day 1 morning: market and local produce
A gourmet weekend starts where cooks shop.
The Lorgues market, on Tuesday morning
The market is held on Tuesday morning. On a Saturday–Sunday trip, extend your stay or visit producers directly.
What to taste
Olive oil, Provence wines, honey, goat's cheeses and Var vegetables.
See our guide to Provençal specialities.
- Olive oil
- Provence wines
- Garrigue honey
- Goat's cheeses
- Var vegetables
Day 1 lunch: on a terrace in Lorgues
Lunch is the meal to stretch out, in the shade.
A Provençal lunch under the trees
Look for shade, choose fresh seasonal dishes, and book for 12:15.
Our tips to eat on a terrace in the Var.
Carnets de Voyage: a 1780 house and its hidden garden
A terrace, a hidden garden under the olive tree, France & World fusion cooking with a good share of homemade dishes, and a menu that changes every week.
Discover our France & World fusion cuisine.
Day 1 afternoon: vineyards and abbey
Wine estates around Lorgues and Taradeau
Côtes de Provence vineyards cover the hills. Visit two estates at most, and call ahead.
Le Thoronet Abbey
The Cistercian abbey, ten minutes away, is the quiet pause of the weekend.
See our page on the restaurant near Le Thoronet.
Day 1 evening: a dinner that travels
Why fusion cooking fits a Provençal weekend
Same local produce, taken elsewhere: fusion tapas to share in the evening.
A romantic dinner in a characterful setting
The hidden garden lit by candles: the moment couples remember.
Ideas for a dinner for two under the olive tree in Lorgues.
Day 2: Provence Verte hill villages
A short loop through the villages of Provence Verte.
Cotignac and its cliffs
Tufa cliff, cave dwellings, plane-tree avenue, waterfalls.
See our restaurant in Cotignac page.
Salernes, terracotta and tiles
Workshops still make hexagonal tomettes.
See our restaurant in Salernes page.
Back via Draguignan
Old town and terraces, fifteen minutes from Lorgues.
See our restaurant near Draguignan page.
Bringing back a souvenir: local art and vintage finds
The Carnets de Voyage gallery & vintage shop
Works by local artists and vintage objects, to take home as a unique souvenir.
Visit our gallery & vintage shop.
Read also about vintage and artists in Provence.
Variations: couples, families, friends, tight budget
A few tweaks depending on who you travel with.
Couples
Light afternoons, dinner in the garden.
Families
Swap a tasting for Cotignac's waterfalls or a pottery workshop.
Friends
Share tapas, book a big table early.
Tight budget
Picnic from producers, one proper restaurant meal.
Chef Benjamin's Friday lunch menu
Starting on Friday? A starter-main-dessert menu at a small price.
Details on our Friday lunch menu page.
Gourmet weekend in the Var: your questions
How many days for a gourmet weekend in the Var?
Two days for a first taste; three if you want the Tuesday market.
When is the Lorgues market?
On Tuesday morning.
Should restaurants be booked at weekends?
Yes, ideally by phone, especially on Saturdays and terraces.
Can vineyards and villages be combined in 2 days?
Yes: vineyards and Le Thoronet on day 1, Cotignac, Salernes and Draguignan on day 2.
Where to stay to explore the inland Var?
In Lorgues or a nearby village, thanks to its central position.
Plan the rest of your trip
To find your table during your stay, see our restaurant Var page, then explore related reads:
Book your table at Carnets de Voyage, 12 avenue Allongue, 83510 Lorgues: call 07 88 88 89 60.
12 avenue Allongue, 83510 Lorgues