Draguignan

Towns and Villages - by Provence Beyond

Villages > Draguignan      

Nearby:  | Les Arcs 9 km | Barjols 44 km | Brignoles 55 km | Callas 16 km | Cannes 60 km | Claviers 20 km | Fayence 32 km | Figanières 12 km | Flayosc 5 km | Fréjus 29 km | Grasse 56 km | Grimaud 46 km | Lorgues 13 km | Nice 89 km | Saint Tropez 49 km | Sainte Maxime 35 km | Salernes 23 km | Villecroze 21 km |

Below: | Olive-Oil Mills | O.T. | Sports | Hiking | Lodging Hotels |

A decent Saturday-morning visit of Draguignan could start with the shops in the the center. Then wander east into the old town, eventually to the great food market at the Place du Marché. After sampling some of the wonderful offerings, like olive bread or nut bread, various cheeses and olives, set off up the hill and through the old town.

At the top is the Tour de l'Horloge (our photo, above), beside the little open-air Théatre de Verdure. At the far side of the hill are a couple of Olive Oil Mills [photo], side by side and just up the road from the Rue des Moulins.

The streets of the old town (roughly between the Tour de l'Horloge and the Place du Marché) are interesting for wandering, even though they don't have quite the same Medieval character as many of the smaller villages.

Down in the center of town, beside the main drag, is a large park-square. The park is surrounded by the foire, the clothing market.

Motorcycles

Cycles Flash Bike

Location: 305 rue Jean Aicard

Tel: 0494 683 560

Cycles Monti J.P.

Location: 32 bd Jean Jaurès

Tel: 0494 681 841; Fax: 04 94 68 59 52

Olive Oil Mills    (List of Mills - 83)

Loucalen Oil Mill - Moulin à Huile Loucalen

Location: 1 Rue de l'Observance

Tel: 0494 472 187

Olive oil available.

Office de Tourisme

Tel : 04 98 105 105; Fax: 04 98 105 110

Web: www.ville-draguignan.fr
Email: contact@ot-draguignan.fr

Sports

Cycling Tour de France

On the route of the 2009 Tour de France, stage 2, Monaco to Brignoles.

Cycling

Cycles Flash Bike

Location: 305 rue Jean Aicard

Tel: 0494 683 560

Cycles Monti J.P.

Location: 32 bd Jean Jaurès

Tel: 0494 681 841; Fax: 04 94 68 59 52

Hiking

Maps:

IGN (1/25,000) #3543 OT "Draguignan"

Didier Richard (1/50,000) #25 "Maures Haut-Pays Varois"

Draguignan is a large town, surrounded by housing, commerce and farms, sou you'll have to drive out of town a bit for hiking in the nearby hills.

Chemin de Malmont - Voie Romaine

Drive northeast out of the center, first towards Grasse, then just out of town turn off left towards the Chemin de Malmont. This is the old Roman road, starting about 2 km from the center, going northwest up a wooded valley to Le Malmont. We saw a pair of golden eagles as we started up, making a nice beginning for an otherwise uneventful walk.

The Roman road is still very much in evidence: many sections still have the Roman edging stones, sometimes along both sides together. In a couple of places parts of the original Roman surfaces stones are still in use.

About 30 minutes to the top, and over to the left (west) to the orientation table and a great view, excepting for the ubiquitous haze. All of Draguignan is spread out below, backed by low hills and distant mountains.

The Botanical Walk is a short loop around the top of the hill. A great idea and an excellent walk, but most of the botanical panels are lost or damaged from vandalism.

Lodging - Hotels