Fourteen glazed stations set into the rock, a 10th-century chapel and visible traces of a Roman road give Ampus a distinct cultural character. The village sits on a rise above the Nartuby Gorge. If you are interested in culture and history, you will find different layers of time here: sacred architecture, archaeological evidence, ancient routes and a recurring annual tradition of transhumance.
Routes with Different Stories
The Chemin de Croix d’Ampus has 14 stations. Geoff Hindry created the route at the site of the former feudal castle; it leads to the grotto. The Chemin de l’eau offers a different perspective on the village’s history: it brings to life the use of the 500-year-old Fontigon canal. In this way, a route with Stations of the Cross and an experience of how a canal was used explore different themes.
The Roman past is also present in the landscape. The voie Aurélienne was a Roman road between Fréjus and Riez, and it is still visible in Ampus between the hamlets of Le Bosquet and La Grange. Ampus also lies on a branch route of the Via Aurelia between Fréjus and Riez. Some sections are documented as being six metres wide. The section on the slope between Olves and Ste-Anne d’Ampus is cut into the hillside and supported by a dry-stone wall.
Sacred Buildings and Archaeological Traces
The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Spéluque in Ampus dates from the 10th century. It was classified as a historic monument, “Monument historique”, by decree on 26 June 1990. The recorded building phases of the Église Saint-Michel d’Ampus tell a different story of development: originally, it was the chapel of the feudal castle and was then dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Two additional naves were added in succession, in 1728 and 1762.
The Dolmen de Marencq points to a community having been present in the surrounding area for more than 4,000 years. A restoration by Jean Courtin returned the dolmen to its original architectural form. The Oppidum de l’Englugi is thought to have formed a veritable town in Celtic-Ligurian times. In terms of chronology, the community whose presence has been attested in the surrounding area for more than 4,000 years and the possible town of the oppidum in Celtic-Ligurian times belong to different periods.
Traditions and Cultural Context
Every year during the transhumance season, large flocks of sheep pass through Ampus along the “drailles”. This recurring practice adds a living tradition to the traces of earlier eras. Ampus is also a stop on the Villages de Caractère du Var tourist route and the Monastères du Var cultural route. These routes place the village in different thematic contexts: the character of villages in the Var and a cultural route devoted to monasteries.
When planning your trip, you can therefore explore Ampus according to your interests: if you want to discover historic routes, the voie Aurélienne and the Chemin de Croix are central. Sacred architecture, the history of the canal and archaeological interpretations offer other ways to explore the area. If sacred architecture is your focus, you can compare the 10th-century Chapelle Notre-Dame de Spéluque with the naves added to Saint-Michel in 1728 and 1762.
Discover more destinations: Evenos, La Farlede, Aiguines, Lorgues, La Mole, Sanary-Sur-Mer, Le Lavandou, Correns
Go to the overview of destinations: Var.
