© seeprovence.com
© seeprovence.com
© Seeprovence.com
© seeprovence.com
© seeprovence.com
© seeprovence.com
Mons, Provence
Peaceful village in Provence with wonderful views down to the coast
At 814m, Mons is likely the most elevated village in the department of the Var. Some 50km north-east of Draguignan, and close to the border of the Alpes Maritime (Riviera) it sits high up in splendid isolation looking down on nearby Fayence or farther to the south, to the Mediterranean coast. On a good day you can even spot Corsica, roughly 200km away.
Apart from such splendid views, why would you want to make the trip over narrow winding mountain roads to tiny Mons, which has just over 680 inhabitants, no weekly market, no fancy boutiques, no starred restaurants, no supermarkets and just one or two cafés? The answer is that Mons is an oasis of calm, at even the peak of the highest season, and is such a quiet and charming village.
The reason why it's so laid back and blessedly free from lines of tourist buses may have something to do with the access road. The easiest way to reach Mons is by way of Fayence and the D563 road. Even then you need to keep constant vigilance as you approach each bend in the narrow road that passes in between rocks and ravines.
An even better, but yet more challenging access is by way of Callian and the D37 and D56. This one-car-wide route leads through the spectacular Gorges de la Siagne, with its limestone rocks, deeply carved canyons and refreshing streams and waterfalls. Even during a drought, the Siagne still runs, though at a trickle. The road also passes the Roche Taillée, a (small) Roman Aqueduct that transports to this day the waters around Mons to the coast town of Fréjus.
Sights & Attractions in [locality]
Within the village, there is a small municipal museum in one of the old houses - check at the tourist office for opening times. There is a token entry fee.
The village church dates back to the 13th century, with additions made between the 15th - 17th centuries. You may come across the Musée Marine and Montagne, which has a collection of matchstick model ships on display - opening hours are at the discretion of the owner.
There are one or two shops and delis - honey seems to be one of the main local products. A couple of artisan workshops can be found in the village - pottery, glass blowing and painting.
Things to do in [locality]
Once you have reached the village you will find parking easy to come by, most likely on the Place St. Sébastien at the end of the plateau, where you can visit the tourist office and, above all, the orientation table from where you can have the spectacular views earlier described. The building beyond the tourist office is a school.
The countryside around Mons offers hiking trails - the Grand Randonee GR49 passes directly through Mons and takes you either to Rougon in the north, or Saint Raphael on the coast. The tourist office can advise on guided nature walking tours throughout the Var, they can also advise on canyoning, potholing, horse riding, rock climbing and via ferrata.
Dining in [locality]
There are a handful of cafés and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy the peace and the relaxed pace of life that exists here.
Where to stay in [locality]
There is nowhere to stay actually in the village of Mons and the surrounding area is pretty sparse for accommodations. However, in a 10 mile radius there are enough hotels, chambre d'hôtes, gites and villa and apartment rentals to choose from, of varying quality.
