Brignoles, Provence

It has some Roman history thanks to the nearby Roman road, the Via Aurelia (a Roman tomb can be seen in the town's museum), but Brignoles came into its own during medieval times when the Counts of Provence used to stay here for the summer. Noble families settled here and the 10th century castle was converted into a palace (Palais des Comtes de Provences).

Brignoles made money initially from agriculture and then in the 19th century from its tanneries.

Afterwards, bauxite mining proved to be a valuable source of income and today, it's the wine industry which sustains the area.

A marble quarry to the south west of Brignoles, which has been mined since Roman times, is still in use.

The medieval centre is guarded by towers and gates. The church, Saint Sauveur, was built upon an existing 11th century church (which subsequently became the chapel) and is built in a Romanesque style. Many of the 16th and 17th century buildings have been renovated - look out for Roman façades and decorative alcoves. You'll also find a Knights Templar house dating back to the 12th century, a 'Jewish quarter' and plenty of mansion houses with fascinating histories.

The highlight of the town is the Palais des Comtes de Provences. The building dates back to the 12th century and now houses the Musée du Pays Brignolais. The exhibits include all sorts of items from Brignoles history and an ancient Christian sarcophagus, as well as paintings, etchings and drawings.

The Abbaye de la Celle is a 13th century Benedictine convent and lies 2km south west of Brignoles. The attached priory is now a hotel, but you can still visit the cloisters, chapter house and the refectory.

Market day is on Wednesday and there is a fragrant flower market on Saturdays.

The river Le Caramy flows through Brignoles and offers a welcome piece of green in the town centre. During the summer, the area is popular with swimmers and there are picnic tables by the Notre Dame bridge.

It acts as the market centre for the area and so it can get pretty busy, although most of the traffic is kept away from the old town with a new ring road. The town centre has it's share of medieval architecture and grand mansions, and the main square (Place Caramy) hosts the town hall and a number of cafés that are perfect for watching the world go by. There are many fountains dotted throughout the centre, but many do not run due to the need to conserve water.

An old train line runs a 1950's railcar through Brignoles - it starts in Carnoules to the south west and goes in a circular route via Platanes and Sainte Anastasie. It runs in the summer months only and you can find out more at the tourist office.

Brignoles is surrounded by walking trails through forests - one that is well signposted is from Brignoles to Camps la Source vis the Chapel of St Sebastian - a loop of 11.5km.

Horse riding is popular in this area, and there is a karting track to the west of Brignoles.

There are several nice B&Bs in the area.