Full-Day 3 Village Tour of Provence: Splendid & Secret

An incredible tour which starts at a near by, little known medieval village full of history, Napoleon and charm. We follow an ancient road through the mighty Gorges of Olllioules to our next destination, Le Castellet. Immediately we are surrounded by the famous vineyards of Bandol wine appellation, and, as if we are in a road trip movie, we zig zag through typical bright Provencal country side. We do an obligatory stop to sample some of these great wines, while learning and understanding what makes the grape varieties here so special. We carry on to Le Castellet and its famous castle where we will visit esoteric shops, winding streets, and have a 360 degree view of vineyards, mountains, and the sea. An incredible location at the heart of the Var district of Provence. After we had lunch we will carry on to probably the most beautiful and authentic ports in all of Provence, the celebrated Sanary-sur-mer. For groups of 4+, you can double book and I will arrange for a 1-2 VIP vans.

Itinerary

1. The medieval village is listed as one of "The Most Beautiful Bypasses of France". Ollioules welcomes us at the foot of its feudal castle and invites us to discover, over streams and fountains, more than thirty arts and craft shops, and a colorful and thriving farmer's market on Thursdays and Saturdays. We will roam the alleyways in the medieval district, look at the ancient houses and tell stories. Climb to the castle at the foot of the "Big Brain" ridge, tell what happened here, and look out over the village and mesmerizing Mediterranean sea. (1h 30min)
2. Wine tastings of the famous Bandol appellation. What makes this wine so special? And why can its grape variety can only be grown here? (40 min) Admission included
3. The beautiful feudal village has been widely publicized for being host to the famous Paul Ricard International car race. From the parking lot, nested between vineyards, we will climb to the picturesque village located at the top of a hill. We will look at the charming houses and the small plazas surrounded by carefully restored old stone houses. We will take pleasure in its small windy streets and visit interesting shops and craft booths. In the afternoon we will have free time to surrender to the inviting terraces of a host of restaurants. From the 15th-century promenade of the castle, we will discover an extraordinary panoramic view of the St. Baum Ridge, and the famous vineyards of Bandol will seduce us. (2h 0min)
4. We will reach the colorful dock of the small fishing port and immediately fall in love with it! In this Provencal village, with its Mediterranean atmosphere, its colorful facades, its lively streets, we will recount the history of the port and its relationship with neighboring Ollioules. Sanary was awarded heroic decorations in World War II - who did it shelter from the Nazis? And why did a small fishing village stand up against the Third Reich? (1h 30min)