Visit the santon fairs, attend the Pastorales and listen to the Christmas carols in the little churches lost in the countryside, concoct good Christmas recipes, taste the 13 desserts and offer them to the guests… come and experience Christmas in Provence !
Meet numerous producers and creators from the Var region during original and magical Christmas markets in estates, châteaux and cooperative cellars, members of the Route des Vins de Provence. Here are some selected markets:
Snails are very popular during the end of year celebrations and are a real treat for the taste buds! Opt for local products with Escargots de la Dominette in Le Pradet, a passionate producer who raises, processes and markets his snails.
Are you more of a shellfish fan? Treat yourself to oysters with a unique Mediterranean taste from Coquillages Giol, a producer in Tamaris (La Seyne-sur-Mer). These quality oysters have won several medals (Silver medal in 2017 and 2018, Gold medal in 2019).
Another product of the Var region, the truffle is an exceptional ingredient that enhances meals for the holidays. You can find this black diamond at the truffle market in Aups every Thursday from the end of November to March, and you can also taste it at the Domaine de Majastre in Bauduen, where you can eat in the farm.
A perfect accompaniment to your festive meals, chestnuts can be enjoyed in all their forms, as well as in desserts : chestnut cream, marrons glacés, etc. Make a diversion to the capital of chestnuts, Collobrières, and discover the Châtaigne Joyeuse, a chestnut farm producing organic products, and La Confiserie Azuréenne, awarded the highest distinction in the profession : the title of Master Craftsman.
Add a touch of deliciousness to your festive meals with honey from the Ruchers des Maure in Les Mayons, awarded 61 medals in 26 years ! Meet Jean-Philippe from the Miellerie Mandard in Draguignan, or Christophe Benvenuto in Ampus and enjoy a tasting and sale of their wide variety of honeys.
You will also find many products made from the production of bees in the Rucher de l’Estérel shop.
Particularly well matched with foie gras, the fig is also part of the list of 13 Christmas desserts along with dried fruits and nuts. Let yourself be tempted by the Solliès PDO figs, biscuits or jams from the Castel de Fies estate in Solliès-Pont, which offers 100% organically grown products processed directly on site.
Finally, the nougats and Christmas biscuits are a must for the end of year celebrations. Crack into these sweet treats with the Biscuiterie Péchés gourmands in Six-Fours, the Confiserie Fouque in Signes, Maison Jonquier in Ollioules or Le Petit Biscuitier in Toulon !
Emblems of Provence, the santons are the soul of the cot.
Each year, we impatiently wait to take them out of the boxes and create our own little nativity scene. Every year, enthusiasts enlarge the little Provencal village with a new creation, a little house, the wash house, the mill or the baker’s oven. Who doesn’t have a favourite santon ? Each santon of Provence has its own notoriety : the angel Boufaréu, the shepherd, the tambourine-player, but the most endearing and the most emblematic is certainly lou ravi with his arms in the air ! Here we have even made a nice expression to designate someone a little naive and joyful : “one would say lou ravi de la crèche”!
So don’t hesitate to buy your own little santon of Provence from one of the santon makers of the Var!
More information about santons of Provence and santon makers in the Var
