Carnoules

Le lac de Bîmes est une petite réserve nichée à l'ubac du massif des Maures, sur la commune de Carnoules. Il a une superficie de 1 hectare.

Peuplement piscicole d'intérêt halieuthique : truite arc en ciel essentiellement.

Technique de pêche à privilégier : coup à l'anglaise.

La pêche y est réglementée.
Aucune embarcation autorisée.
La baignade y est interdite.

The Massif des Maures is one of the wildest and oldest areas of Provence. The chain forms four long, parallel bars of low altitude, harbouring 26 pretty villages. more +

A railway depot was set up in Carnoules in 1874, on the new Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée line. Until 1914, all trains travelling from Marseille to Nice stopped at Carnoules to change engines.

The depot housed around 100 coaches and employed over 400 railway workers. During WWII, these workers were highly active Resistants: Carnoules was the headquarters for the 3rd sniper company (FTP) and became a genuine "capital of sabotage".

The village's railway industry dwindled in the 1960's with the arrival of competition from the roads and the electrification of the railway network.

A steam engine built in 1893 and operated in Carnoules from 1918 to 1930 stands at the village entrance in memory of this glorious past. Bought up by the town council and the "Amis de la Vapeur" association for the safeguard of old steam engines, it was installed in 1979.

Also paying tribute to the local history, a proud red and white autorail takes visitors through the hills from Carnoules to Brignoles...

This museum is home to a working model of the Marseille - Nice - Breil railway line.

Visitors can also admire working models of famous old trains such as the Mistral, Ligure and Train Bleu... more +

- Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption : built in the 17th century.
- Chapelle Notre Dame de la Vièrge : built in 1817 at the summit of a hill of the same name, offering splendid views over the Massif des Maures to the South, Coudon mountain and the Massif des Morières to the West, and the Plateau des Thèmes to the North.
The ruins of the Château Royal medieval castrum spread out at the foot of the chapel.

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 +