Access to the house:
The main auto route, the A8, is just 20 minutes away so Nice, Cannes, Aix en Provence, are all about an hour's drive. Monaco and Italy are an easy day's outing or you could take a trip to Corsica by ferry from Nice. Toulon-Hyeres, also an hour's drive to our house, is a hassle-free provincial airport served by Ryanair, or alternatively fly into Nice with a wide choice of airlines. The SNCF railway station at Les Arcs, which is 15 minutes from the house, provides fast connections to Paris (TGV 5 hours). If you prefer there is an overnight Motor rail service from Calais/Lille to Nice allowing you to bring your own car and let the train take the strain!
Lorgues facts:
Lorgues is a town of just under 10,000 inhabitants, built up around a walled medieval core. Built on a south-facing hillside, ‘a village perché’, it is dominated by an enormous and imposing church – la Collégiale St. Martin – very visible, as you get close!
The town dates from the 10th century, and has an intriguing history in relation to the Crusaders. The church was built in the 15th century. The narrow streets of the old village, enclosed by crumbling walls, and some beautiful towers, are worth exploring; especially as there are fountains and interesting old buildings dotted around. The main street, a rather grand tree lined boulevard, Boulevard Georges Clémenceau, is modelled on the Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence. Plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants there to relax in
Our olive mill was one of 6 on this street, located to use the water from the open culvert(La Canal) which ran down the street.
Shopping and restaurants:
Shopping: There are markets at Lorgues (Tues), Aups (Wed & Sat), & Salernes (Sun) and a very large Sunday Provencal market at Le Muy by the auto route (A8). The two nearest Carrefour hypermarkets are at Draguignan & Trans en Provence. Smaller supermarkets (Intermrche and Casino) are open on Sunday mornings in Lorgues, and most of the surrounding villages. Draguignan, the former capital of the Var, with its impressive county hall, provides a rich variety of individual shops, where you can buy clothes, handmade chocolates, pastries, and gifts. There is also a theatre, cinema, ten pin bowling and visiting funfairs. All the surrounding villages have a number of restaurants, serving primarily French cuisine. From the renowned Michelin-starred truffle restaurant Chez Bruno near Lorgues, to family-run French restaurants all offering 'le menu' or a la carte. For a change there are Chinese restaurants and pizza takeaways
Other Activities:
There is also a table tennis table for use indoors or out.
