Stones and games in Tavernes

There are several car parks available for this route. Here we recommend the La Poste car park at the entrance to the village on the Barjols, Varages side, on the edge of the D554.

(S/E) Walk past the post office, cross the D554 and then go up Chemin du Braou, following the yellow markings. You will soon arrive at the start of the route opposite the cemetery.

Follow the yellow markings for the "^PR® Notre Dame de Bellevue" trail for almost the entire route. At certain intersections, there are directional markers and arrows. The little fox Filou also provides directional information on the educational signs along the route.

(1) Continue along the Chemin du Braou, following the yellow markings. Ignore the Chemin du Vallon de Michel on your right and continue to the next crossroads.

(2) Turn right at the cross and the enamelled lava sign "Le Chemin de Croix" (The Way of the Cross). It is part of the "Laissez-vous conter Tavernes" route.
Crosses and oratories punctuate the climb to the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel. Educational panel no. 1, "Pierre feuille..." (Stone leaf...), is located next to an oratory and old dry stone buildings.

(3) At the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel, a stop on the heritage route, go around it or pass between the chapel and the hermitage. Join the turning area of the DFCI track at the foot of the lookout.
In this area, you will find benches and educational panels 2 "3D stone puzzle" and 3 "DFCI in numbers & letters".
Take the track, following the yellow markings.
You will soon come across educational panel no. 4, "Card games or trail games".

(4) At the multi-directional sign and the cross, turn right in front of the multi-directional sign and pass by the cross. The steep path with scree is more "typical" than the track. It is a shortcut that takes you down to the Chemin de Montmeyan towards the village.

(5) The Chemin de Bury and the Chemin de Montmeyan intersect at the signpost indicating the village. Turn right and follow the yellow markings to the village. Pass in front of the dovecote, another stop on the heritage route.

(6) Turn right to cross the village and return to the starting point (S/E).

Before leaving, discover more about the village of Tavernes, its concentric streets and the other stages of the "Laissez-vous contez Tavernes" route.

(4) Variations:
Option 1: stay on the^PR® "Notre-Dame de Bellevue" marked in yellow to make a larger circular route.
Option 2: stay on the^PR® until the intersection with Chemin de Montmeyan and head towards the Trois Croix site (3 km away).

For options 1 and 2: at the multi-directional sign, continue straight ahead towards "Les Trois Croix" and follow the yellow markings until you reach the intersection at the DFCI water tank.
Then, for option 1, turn right onto Chemin de Montmeyan towards the village of Tavernes and follow the yellow markings. Join the route at (5).
Then, for option 2, turn left and then immediately right towards Les Trois Croix. At the site, two orientation tables provide information about the landscape. Then retrace your steps. At the cistern, continue left on Chemin de Montmeyan towards the village of Tavernes and follow the yellow markings. Join the route at (5).

Developed by the Provence Verdon Community of Municipalities, the Randonner Autrement project aims to introduce families to the natural heritage, outlying built heritage, landscapes and their evolution, as well as views of the villages.

Please respect other people's property and nature.
Remember to check the fire risk alert map on the Var Prefecture website and find out about hunting seasons, hunting days and battues.

Make sure you wear suitable footwear.
Main difficulty: the climb up the Chemin de Croix to the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel.

Emergencies: 112
Provence Verdon Community of Communes: 04 94 77 18 53
Tavernes Town Hall: 04 98 05 36 36

Several car parks are available:
- La Poste, at the entrance to the village on the Barjols/Varages side, on the edge of the RD 554.
- Opposite the La Tavernaise olive cooperative, on the Fox-Amphoux, Montmeyan side, along the RD 70. The oil mill is a point of interest on the "Laissez-vous conter (LVC) Tavernes" route. Cross the village to reach the cemetery, where you will come across various stops on the heritage route.
- At the cemetery, Chemin du Braou.

Complementing the "Laissez-vous conter Tavernes" heritage route, the "Randonner Autrement à Tavernes "Des pierres et des jeux" route invites you to discover beautiful views: over the village of Tavernes and its plain from the chapel, and others if you continue your exploration to the Trois Croix.

Keep an eye out for Filou, your little travelling companion, and his subtle interventions, whether to guide you or entertain you.

Please note:
The name of the route is inspired by the Latin phrase from Ancient Rome "Panem et circenses", literally "bread and circus games", often translated as "bread and games". The omnipresent stones have replaced bread, and the reference to games is also present in the names of each sign.

During the hike

Signpost at the start of the "Randonner Autrement à Tavernes" route
Chemin de Braou opposite the cemetery (parking available).

Station 1: educational signpost "Pierre feuille..."
On the Way of the Cross, next to an oratory and old dry stone buildings.

Station 2: Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel area - educational panel no. 2 "3D stone puzzle.
A bench has been installed behind the cross at the viewpoint overlooking the Tavernes plain and Les Bessillons. Another bench is located just in front of the chapel, along with educational panel no. 2.
The chapel, built against the rock, and the hermitage are points of interest on the "Laissez-vous conter Tavernes" heritage route. The terraces around the chapel have been restored.

Station 3: educational panel "DFCI in figures & letters"
On the DFCI trail, at the turning area behind the chapel, opposite the lookout point

Station 4: educational panel "Card games or trail games"
On the DFCI track, in front of a viewpoint overlooking Chiran, Mourre de Chanier, Grand Margès, etc.

Near the hike.

The Provence Verdon Community of Communes belongs to the Provence Verte Verdon Land of Art and History. Discover the heritage routes of the villages: "Let the Land of Art and History tell its story..."

Along the route, you will come across various enamelled lava panels. They belong to the village heritage route "Let Tavernes tell you its story". Enjoy the route, which stops off in the village to discover its heritage.

Also worth seeing in Tavernes: the Trois Croix site (on the border between the municipalities of Tavernes, Fox-Amphoux and Montmeyan) and the dovecote.

Nearby:
- "Au fil de l'eau" alternative route in Varages.
- "Des versants d'histoire" alternative route in Pontevès.
- EuroVelo 8, Mediterranean cycle route.
- Other hiking ideas in the^PR® guide "La Provence Verte... à pied" (Green Provence... on foot):^PR® Notre Dame de Bellevue, see Rando Provence et Verdon.