Besse-sur-Issole

This natural lake fed by the river Issole laps the doorstep of a small village. A protected site, spanning 10 acres, it includes bathing and picnic areas and is home to many ducks!

The legendary bandit Gaspard de Besse was born here in 1757. During his childhood years, he spent many hours fishing tench and pike on the village's pretty, circular lake, fed by the river Issole.

Gaspard's family home is situated on the right of Rue de Barrème. On Place de l’Horloge, you can see the tower he climbed in secret when he was 10 years old.

- Eglise Sainte Madeleine : built in 1647. Fine Gothic-style entrance door.
- Belfry : built in 1655 and topped with a bell tower.
- Fountains.
- Gaspard's grotto : ancient communal oven, housing an exhibition on Gaspard de Besse.
- Château Saint Dominique : medieval castle largely reworked over the centuries.
- Chapelle Saint Quinis and hermitage : built in 1634 by the Trinitaries on the ruins of a Romanesque chapel. A small monastery, now ruined, was added in 1646. The chapel houses many ex-votos. An outbuilding next to the chapel is used as a hermitage.
- Chapelle Sainte Agathe : built in the 13th or 14th century and reworked in the 19th century.
- Chapelle Sainte Croix : built in the 16th century – 17th century entrance door.
- Chapelle Saint Etienne : built in 1646 on the ruins of a Romanesque chapel.

La Loube mountain is a large, wild and densely-forested mountain, home to 25 km of very picturesque dolomitic sites interspersed with wide valleys (Infernet and Cendrier), ravines (Orris - protected site), gorges (Amaron) and numerous swallow holes. Rising to a height of 810 m, the mountain abounds with oaks, junipers, sorbs and maples, and its rich fauna includes wild boars, deer, eagle owls and harrier eagles. Remarkable circus at Baraque. Exceptional views over the surrounding mountain summits.

L'association du train touristique du centre var a réhabilité l'ancienne voie de chemin de fer entre Carnoules et Brignoles. A bord d'un autorail des années 50, surnommé "le Picasso", le voyageur découvre les multiples facettes du paysage provençal. Les bénévoles de l'association, passionnés par la vie du rail, se font un plaisir de commenter le voyage. Témoignages et anecdotes ponctuent la balade champêtre, ainsi que l'installation manuelle des passages à niveau mobiles ! Plus qu'un voyage à la campagne, c'est un petit voyage dans le temps.

Le voyageur peut monter à bord depuis les gares "Train touristique" de Carnoules, Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole (tout récemment entièrement rénovée) et Brignoles. more +