Stones and games in Tavernes

There are several car parks available for this route. The one indicated here is the post office car park at the entrance to the village on the Barjols and Varages side, alongside the D554.

(S/E) Walk past the post office, cross the D554 and then head up Chemin du Braou, following the yellow markings. You’ll soon reach the route’s starting sign opposite the cemetery.

Follow the yellow markings for the^“PR®® Notre Dame de Bellevue” for almost the entire route. At certain junctions, there are directional markers and arrows. Filou the little fox also provides directions on the route’s information boards.

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

(2) Turn right at the cross and the enamelled lava sign reading “Le Chemin de Croix”. This forms part of the “Laissez-vous conter Tavernes” heritage route.
Crosses and wayside shrines dot the climb up to the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Bellevue. Information panel no. 1, “Pierre feuille …”, is situated next to a wayside shrine and some old dry-stone structures.

(3) At the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel, a stop on the heritage route, walk round it or pass between the chapel and the hermitage. Make your way to the turning area on the DFCI track at the foot of the watchtower.
In this area, you’ll find benches and information boards 2, ‘3D stone puzzle’, and 3, ‘DFCI in figures and letters’.
Follow the track, keeping to the yellow markings at all times.
You will soon come across information panel no. 4, ‘Card or trail games’.

(4) At the multi-directional signpost and the cross, turn right in front of the signpost and walk past the cross. The steep, scree-strewn path is more ‘typical’ than the track. It’s a shortcut that takes you down to the Chemin de Montmeyan, heading towards the village.

(5) The Chemin de Bury and the Chemin de Montmeyan cross at the signpost indicating the village. Turn right and follow the yellow markings to the village. Walk past the dovecote, another stop on the heritage route.

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

Before setting off, take some time to explore the village of Tavernes, with its concentric streets and the other stops on the “Laissez-vous conter Tavernes” route.

(4) Alternatives:
Option 1: stay on the^PR®® “Notre-Dame de Bellevue” trail, marked in yellow, to complete a longer circular route.
Option 2: stay on the^PR®® until the junction with Chemin de Montmeyan and head towards the Trois Croix site (3 km away).

For options 1 and 2: at the multi-directional signpost, continue straight on towards “Les Trois Croix” and follow the yellow markings to the junction at the DFCI water tank.
Then, for option 1, turn right onto the Chemin de Montmeyan towards the village of Tavernes and follow the yellow markings. Join the route at (5).
For option 2, turn left and then immediately right towards Les Trois Croix. At the site, two orientation boards help you interpret the landscape. Then retrace your steps. At the cistern, continue left onto the 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 Communes, the ‘Randonner Autrement’ project aims to introduce families to the natural heritage, remote built heritage, the landscapes and how they have changed over time, as well as views over the villages.

Please respect other users and the natural environment.
Remember to check the fire risk alert map on the Var Prefecture’s website and to find out about hunting seasons, hunting days and driven hunts.

Make sure you wear suitable footwear.
Main challenge: the climb up the Way of the Cross 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

There are several car parks available:
- the one at La Poste, at the village entrance on the Barjols and Varages side, alongside the RD 554.
- the car park opposite the La Tavernaise olive oil co-operative, on the Fox-Amphoux and Montmeyan side, alongside the RD 70. The olive oil mill is a point of interest on the “Laissez-vous conter (LVC) Tavernes” route. Walk through the village to reach the cemetery, where you’ll come across various stops along the heritage route.
- At the cemetery, on 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 some beautiful viewpoints: one overlooking the village of Tavernes and its plain near the chapel, and others if you continue your walk as far as the Trois Croix.

Keep an eye out for Filou, your little travelling companion, and his occasional appearances – whether to help you find your way or to entertain you.

Please note:
The name of the route is inspired by the ancient Roman Latin phrase “Panem et circenses”, literally “bread and circus games”, often translated as “Bread and circuses”. The ubiquitous stones have replaced the bread, whilst the reference to the games is also present in the names of each signpost.

During the walk

Sign marking the start of the “Randonner Autrement à Tavernes” route
Chemin de Braou opposite the cemetery (parking available).

Stop 1: educational sign “Stone, leaf…”
On the Way of the Cross, next to an oratory and old dry-stone structures.

Stop 2: Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel area – information board 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 situated just in front of the chapel, alongside information panel no. 2.
The chapel, built against the rock face, and the hermitage are points of interest on the “Laissez-vous conter Tavernes” heritage route. The terraces around the chapel have been restored.

Stop 3: information panel ‘DFCI in figures and letters’
On the DFCI track, at the turning area behind the chapel, opposite the lookout post

Stop 4: information panel “Card games or trail games”
On the DFCI track, in front of a viewpoint overlooking the Chiran, the Mourre de Chanier, the Grand Margès…

Near the walking route.

The Provence Verdon Community of Communes is part of the Provence Verte Verdon ‘Land of Art and History’ region; discover the villages’ heritage routes: ‘Let us tell you the story of the Land of Art and History...’

Along the route, you’ll come across various enamelled lava stone panels. These form part of the village heritage route “Let Tavernes tell its story”. Make the most of the route’s stop in the village to discover its heritage.

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

Nearby:
- Route “Randonner Autrement” “Au fil de l’eau” in Varages.
- “Des versants d’histoire” “Randonner Autrement” route in Pontevès.
- EuroVelo 8, the Mediterranean cycle route.
- More walking ideas in the^PR®® guide “La Provence Verte… à pied”:^PR®® Notre Dame de Bellevue, available on Rando Provence and Verdon.