Set ideally between sea and country, COGOLIN is a delightful village internationally famed for its unique craft industries. Its bustling maritime activities revolve around "Port Cogolin" and the "Marines de Cogolin" marina, equipped to welcome 1800 boats. Here is the story of Cogolin...

Legend tells that aboard the boat carrying the body of the Christian martyr Torpes from Italy, which ran aground on the shores of today's Saint-Tropez , were a rooster ("coq" in French) and a dog. At the time, the bay was filled with dirty, briny water, infested with mosquitoes and reeds. The rooster flew away into a neighbouring linseed ("lin" in French) field...

And the name Cogolin (Coq Au Lin!) was born. No-one knows exactly what happened to the dog though ! The history of Cogolin has been largely influenced by Counts of Provence and the Religious Wars, then the latter-day Allied Landings. Today, this village with its temperate climate, sheltering at the foot of the Maures Hills, has preserved all its traditional Provençal features, including a ruined castle, clock tower, drawbridge and ancient fortifications. The 16th century Romanesque church and sun dial, serpentine stone porches and square belfry with its vaulted door are well worth a visit.

Cogolin could simply be considered as a village you cross through on the way to Toulon - but don't be fooled! A great holiday destination in its own right, the village is home to extremely original and internationally-renowned craft industries - in particular handmade rugs, briar pipes, reeds for wind instruments... and a special tart! Cogolin's numerous antique and bric-a-brac shops also make it a favourite haunt for lovers of old and unusual objects.

An Arts & Crafts Showcase…

Rugs you say? Yes indeed, the Cogolin workshop has been producing beautiful hand-woven Jacquard rugs since the 1920's. The "tufté" technique has now replaced the more ancient thickpile knotted rugs. The rugs produced by the Cogolin workshop decorate the floors of the Elysée Palace, the White House and the Grand Trianon.
Briar pipes? Manufactured and carved using briar from the Maures Hills, the pipes come in all sizes and shapes - Tarts? The one and only "Tarte Tropézienne" - or as we say here "often imitated, never equalled".

This wide, creamy and sweet cake is traditionally served at Formula 1 Grand Prix races! Reeds for wind instruments? Manufactured from local reeds by the firm "Rigotti et Ruiz", they are then exported all over the world, from Japan to the West Coast of the United States. The greatest international musicians order them by the boxful.

But it would be impossible to visit Cogolin without taking a visit to the Raimu museum, created by the daughter and granddaughter of the famous French actor: posters, over 200 black & white photos and tens of personal objects including a school book where Raimu copied down all the texts he had to learn, stand witness to the life and work of Jules Muraire, nicknamed "Raimu" the immortal César of Marcel Pagnol's famous trilogy.

Yes, it really would be a shame not to visit Cogolin...

Cogolin’s Arts & Crafts workshops

Pottery, wrought iron, pipes, rugs (guided tours of exhibition space for individuals). Brochures available at the Tourist Office.

Provençal Market

Wednesday morning Place Victor Hugo, Saturday morning Place de la République, Friday Marines de Cogolin july and august.

The "Marines de Cogolin" and Port Cogolin

- The "Marines de Cogolin", complex, situated 5 km from the village going towards Saint-Tropez on the RN 98 road, is built between the right bank of the Giscle river and the beach. It includes a 56-acre port, sandy beach and sailing centre.
- Port Cogolin, is a residential complex built around a marina, offering evening entertainment, restaurants and piano-bars.

According to legend, a boat arrived in the bay from Italy, carrying the body of the Christian martyr Torpes, plus a dog and a rooster ("coq" in French). When the boat ran aground, the rooster flew off into a neighbouring linseed field ("lin" in French) - and the name of Cogolin (Coq au Lin) was born.

Monuments

Eglise St Sauveur

This is an old building, from middle XVth century, renovated in the XVIth century, she may cover an older building which she keeps some roman vestiges (chapelle de la Vierge). In 1550, she is etablished "Saint Sauveur Etienne" by Frejus’s bishop. Since 1984, contemporaries and locals artists as De Kock, Biabaud, Vento and Lemarquis make the building more attractive. A lot of elements come from La Chartreuse de la Verne.

Chapelle St Roch

This is a white penitent’s chapel built in the XIXth century (about 1830), near the Place Bellevue, overlooking the Golfe de St Tropez. The barn situated right is the chapel from XVIIth century, sold as national property during the French Revolution. In 1790, she was used many times as meeting place in order to elect the first republican council from the commune.

"Lattre de Tassigny" monument

On Rond point de Kock, sculpted by De Kock.

"Tour de l'Horloge" (Clock Tower)

Located at the entrance to the fortified 14th century walls. The ramparts surrounded part of the village and castle.

Medieval Cogolin

Lengh : around 1 hour 15 minutes

1. Departure in front of the Tourist Office, turn left in the "Rue Jean Jaurès". Go past the memorial of the "Place de la République". Take up the "Rue du 8 mai 1945" right, draw your attention to the City Hall built in 1853. At the top of the street, turn left, in the "Rue du 11 Novembre", direction "Eglise Saint-Sauveur-Saint-Etienne".

2. "On the Place Toti", visit the medieval church. Focus your attention, on the side wall, the portal form the Renaissance sculpted in old French stone. On the main wall, the portal from Gothic period, is in basalt.

3. Go back to "Place Toti" where you will find the fountain made of French stone. Then walk along the "Rue Nationale" to admire the old village and its porches. You can also look at some beautiful doorways in old French stone, probably taken from the ancient castle.

4. Follow the "Rue Nationale" until the "Portail Bas" and turn left under the stone arch. You arrive in a charming place where you turn right on "Rue du Cadran". At the top of this street, you can see a stone house. Come down right the "Rue des Moulins" and discover the painters workshop. Go back to the "Rue des Moulins" and, at the top, turn right on the "Montée des Aloès" : nice view on the "Tour de l’Horloge", the last relics of the fortification of the end XIIIth century, beginning of the XIVth century.

5. Come down to the "Place Bellevue" and its place where you can admire a panoramic view over the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. On your left , "Rue du 19 Mars 1962", you will find the "Chapelle Saint-Roch" of the XIXth century.
The barn located on its right is the old "Chapelle Saint-Roch" of the XVIIth century sold as a National good during the French Revolution.

6. Turn right and take the "Rue Natinale" to discover n°46 a beautiful middleclass house of the XVIIth century with a wonderful porch in old French stone, the former residence of the "Lord of Cogolin". You will find there the "Rooster exhibition" an the "Medieval Museum". In front of the museum, stroll in the place with the fountain in old French stone.

7. Follow the "Rue Nationale" to the stairs on your left. Go down and take "Rue Edgar Quinet" to go back to the Tourist Office.

8. Continue the village tour with the pottery, the pipe and reed factory and the Museum Raimu (a famous French actor) created by his granddaughter.

"Forêt de Négresse"

Forest walk. Exit from Cogolin via the RN 98 towards Saint- Tropez. Just after the roundabout, head towards the Négresse quarter (direction Tennis Club).

"Bibliothèque"(Library)

11,Place de la Liber té. "L’heure du conte" Tel. 04 94 54 64 57

"Cinéma Raimu"

avenue Georges Clemenceau. Tel 04 94 54 15 89

"Nautical centre"

Marines beach. Tel. 04 94 56 05 95

"Tennis club"

Quartier Négresse. Tel. 04 94 54 61 16

"La Baleine Bleue"

free pearl workshop.21, rue Carnot.

"Atelier des Pitchouns"

cooking lesson for kids in La Grange des Agapes.s

"La Demeure Musée Sellier"

-Deux siècles de création artistique en 100 coqs
- Artistics exhibitions
- Templar Knights Museum 46, rue Nationale - 04 94 54 63 28. Open all the year from thuesday to saturday. June 1 to september 30 : 10.00 - 13.00 and 15.00 - 18.30. October 1 to may 31 : 10.00 - 12.30 and 14.30 - 17.30

Discovering our vineyards and châteaux

Visits, wine-tasting, sale.

"Musée Raimu"

Retracing the life of the famous actor - not to be missed! Avenue Georges Clemenceau. Tel: 04 94 54 18 00. Site : www.musee-raimu.com. Open Mond., Wed., Thur., Frid. Sat and Sunday afternoon. 10am - 12am/3pm - 6pm. Open tuesd. during school holidays. Open Sund. 3pm 6pm. From 15/06 to 15/09 : everyday 10am - 12.30am/4pm-7pm, Sunday 4pm - 7pm. Closed the 1rst two-week of Nov.

Antique and bric-a-brac dealers

Antique and bric-a-brac dealers exhibition space.

Painters workshops

5, rue des Moulins - 04 94 54 62 23. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 2.30pm/6.30pm.

"Conserverie Au Bec Fin"

2, av de Valensole. Phone : 04 94 55 74 44. Preparation of Au thentic Provencal Specialities. Open the whole year from Monday to Saturday.
Winter : 9am - 1pm / 2.30pm - 6pm. Summer : 9am - 1pm / 2.30pm - 7pm. Guided visits : from Monday to Friday 10.30am or 11.30am.