La Garde-Freinet... An Island in the Forest
LA GARDE-FREINET is one of Provence's best-preserved villages; its architecture has remained in perfect condition. The stone houses with their Romans tiles are tidily arranged around the town centre, characterized by narrow and sloping streets, little alleyways carved into the rocks and shady squares. A proud watchman standing over the Maures Hills and the sea…
The actress Jeanne Moreau formerly lived in the village, as did Anna Karina. Many artists still reside here or come to stay regularly. La Garde-Freinet is a discreet village, sheltered from the gaze of the adjacent Riviera, perched high up and snug against the giant plain of Le Luc, a few miles inland from the coast. Legend tells it that the Saracens and Barbary Coast pirates founded La Garde-Freinet and used it as a base to pillage the neighbouring villages, although it seems rather unlikely that such seafarers would choose to live so far from the coast...
Whatever the truth, when you take the hilltop roads you will easily understand why the village's first inhabitants chose this rocky spur as their lookout post for potential invaders coming from inland or the sea.
The wide road leading from Grimaud to La Garde-Freinet winds its way through dense and proud chestnut groves, where you can also admire cork oaks and maritime pine trees. Camera, action !
Just like Cavalaire or the Rayol-Canadel, La Garde-Freinet teases its visitors with a long game of hide-and-seek before you finally arrive in the village. But what a change of scene from the hustle and bustle of the coast, as you sit down at a quiet café terrace and listen to a trickling fountain - all the calm of an "Island in the Forest", as La Garde-Freinet likes to call itself...
A Paradise for Walkers...
La Garde-Freinet is the ideal departure point for discovering the Maures Hills. A two-hour itinerary from the village will take you from Rue Saint-Jacques to Aire de La Planète square, via the village cross with its amusing history (ask at the Tourist Office!) and Fort Freinet, where the first inhabitants lived.
The village and surrounding areas offer a vast range of walking itineraries. One of the most picturesque leads to La Croix des Maures and Fort Freinet’s ruins.
The effect is quite striking, though. This is where goats and sheep cross on their way to their Summer or Winter grazing grounds. The traditional Saint Clément "Bravades" are held here on the first weekend of May. Although less spectacular than the more famous "Bravades" held in Saint-Tropez, this military and religious celebration is marked by a procession of soldiers to the shrine of the village's Patron Saint, in the streets of the village.
If you're looking for somewhere nice to dine, La Garde-Freinet offers an excellent choice of eateries - you'll love the views if you drive up to the village at sunset. And when the Mistral wind blows, the inland scenery offers a symphony of yellow, pale orange and sand, fleeting pinks and purples, where the hills stand out sharply against many shades of blue and grey, fading towards the horizon.
Provençal market
(every Wednesday and Sunday morning), Place Neuve
In the village
Old fountains and washtubs... a special signposted circuit takes you all the way round the village (Please ask at Tourist Office). Guided tour by the "Conservatoire du Patrimoine du Freinet". (La Garde-Freinet Heritage Society).
Scale model of Fort Freinet and exhibitions. 2 thematics exhibitions per year (juneseptember) and all the year, 11 guided visits and accompanied walks on the natural, historic and traditional patrimony, young public animations. Programm on request. Guided visit from the village and the Fort Freinet by appointment. Information from the "Conservatoire du Patrimoine". Tel: 04 94 43 08 57
Nine walking (or mountain-bike)
Itineraries in wild and unspoiled countryside, offering exceptional shows of Mediterranean flora and fauna. Full guide on sale at the Tourist Office.
A Touch of History
Contrary to legend, Fort Freinet - the first site of the village - was not a Saracen headquarters; it was actually a Medieval site inhabited from the late 12th century by people from the villages of Saint Clément and Miravals (now Miremer), who decided to join forces.
In the late 13th century, the villagers left this hilly abode progressively and went down to "Col de la Garde", located between today's Rue Saint-Joseph and Rue de la Planète.
The hub of the village as we now know it was hence formed. In the late 15th century, the site of Fort Freinet was completely abandoned. After the Religious Wars, it was destroyed in November 1589 by order of Maréchal de la Valette.
Monuments
Fort Freinet
A listed monument, this stone settlement was built in the late 12th century; the inhabitants deserted it later for the current village of La Garde. In Medieval times, men carved houses, a chapel, a seigneurial residence and a wide moat in the rock an impressive show of skill. Legend tells that Fort Freinet was inhabited by Saracens, who were present in the region in the 10th century. However, archaeological digs undertaken in 1980 revealed no traces of these Spanish-Arab warriors. Access: either from the Tourist Office, Place de la Mairie car park, towards "Aire de La Planète" - signposted footpath, length 60 mins return. Or from "La Croix des Maures" car park - signposted footpath, length 40 mins return.
Saint Clément Chapel
You will discover this chapel on the way to the village from Grimaud. Take the small road winding down to the bottom of the hill, on the right just before La Garde-Freinet. The chapel, which combines simple Romanesque and contemporary styles, is known to date back to the Middle Ages. It was beautiful restored by the sculptor Di Teana.
Saint Clément Church (the village's Patron Saint)
The church is home to a very curious bust of a pope's reliquary, an 18th century baldachin polychrome marble altar and a listed painting (dated 1702), representing Saint-Bernard and Saint Jeanne de France kneeling at the feet of the Virgin Mary. The porch was reworked in 1789 in Renaissance style. The clock tower's superb ironwork dates back to 1875.
Chapelle Notre Dame de Miremer
Situated on the road leading to Grimaud, this chapel was rebuilt in the 19th century and contains an interesting collec- tion of ex-votos reproductions proffered by followers whose lives are said to have been saved by divine intervention. Magnificent panoramic views over the Maures Hills and the sea.
Take a Walk!
Length: 2 hoursFort Freinet. A remarkable watchtower at an altitude of 450 metres overlooking the entire Mediterranean face of the Maures Hills, Argens plain and the lower Alps.
Take the forest road above the village for 1.2 km then continue towards the "Croix des Maures".
Digs have uncovered the first foundations of a late 12th century - early 13th century fortified village, surrounded by a deep moat in the shape of a half-moon and including a lookout post and various defence structures carved entirely into the rock. A sight not to be missed
Panorama
Fort Freinet
Remarkable watchtower at an altitude of 450 metres overlooking the entire Mediterranean face of the Maures Hills, Argens plain and the lower Alps.
"La Croix des Maures"
Missionary cross located below Fort Freinet offering panoramic views and viewpoint over village.
"Les Roches Blanches" (1.30 hour returns)
The village's highest point, at an altitude of 638 m. Apparently covered in snow, these rocks offer incomparable views. Access: from the Tourist Office, walk left Rampe des Sarrasins, turn right Rue Saint Jacques, then follow Rue de l’Eglise to Aire de La Planète. Head up towards the cross via the earth track. Turn round to admire the village (this is one of the best viewpoints!) then head right towards the car park. Take the little tarmacked road on your right (Route des Crêtes). Walk for around 20 minutes to the sign saying "Les Roches Blanches". Take the path up to the two antennas then turn right to the Roches Blanches. Please do not gather samples. On the way back, you can stay on the tarmacked road all the way to the village if you prefer.
Public swimming pool
Open Wednesdays and week-ends in June and every day from July 1 - August 31. Chemin du Moulin. Tél: 04 94 43 61 28
Nursery school
Near the bowls game field.
Tortoise Village
At Gonfaron, just a few km from La Garde-Freinet via the RD 75 road. The village was created to protect and encourage reproduction of the local Hermann tortoise, menaced with extinction due to forest fires and land clearing. Tel: 04 94 78 26 41.
Art exhibitions
Galerie Balthazar - 5, rue du Château. Phone : 06 18 99 34 90 / 04 94 43 16 07
Galerie Aalders - 15, Route Nationale. Phone : 04 94 55 23 47
Local specialities
- "La Ferme des Gambades" : Jams, chestnut cream, honey. 5, Rue Saint-Jacques. Phone : 04 94 43 62 79
- "Au Garde Manger", grocer : Chesnut liqueurs, route nationale. Phone : 04 94 43 69 20
- P"Pâtisserie Lelasseux" : Ask for their "Patiences Fraxinoises"! Rue du Château, Phone: 04 94 43 60 83
- "Baker’s and confectioner’s Le Surfin/Caillet" : specials breads, candied chestnuts, Place Neuve. Tel: 04 98 12 60 73
- Choice of restaurants : Information at the Tourism Office
