Cabasse lies in the Issole Valley and brings together religious heritage and traces of bauxite mining. Les Prés, a natural area where fishing is possible, is located on the banks of the Issole. This offers a range of options for planning your trip: historic buildings, the annual Easter Monday procession, river scenery and a visit to a wine estate by appointment.
Churches, chapels and their history
The Church of Saint-Pons was built in the 16th century. It houses a 17th-century gilded wooden altarpiece, bringing together the history of the building and its later furnishings. Saint-Pons also serves as a venue for concerts and cultural events. If you plan to include a concert in your trip, check the dates in advance.
The Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Glaive is a simple 17th-century building and houses numerous ex-votos. The Chapel of Saint-Loup dates from the 16th century. Together, these religious buildings span the 16th and 17th centuries; the ex-votos add another facet of religious commemorative culture to the architecture. Those interested in architectural history will find a range of details here: the construction dates, the altarpiece and the votive offerings.
Procession, dolmen and mining heritage
Every Easter Monday, residents follow the path of the oratories in a procession to the hilltop of Notre Dame du Glaive. If this tradition plays a role in your trip, Easter Monday offers a specific date to plan around.
The Dolmen de la Gastée takes you back to a much earlier era: at the end of the Neolithic period, approximately between 2500 and 2000 BC, it served as a communal burial site. This dates it to long before the church buildings of the 16th and 17th centuries. Also part of Cabasse’s heritage is its connection to bauxite mining and the “gueules rouges” (“red faces”), which adds mining history to the picture of the town. Prehistoric burial, religious architecture and mining heritage thus stand side by side as distinct historical themes.
The Issole Valley and local production
Les Prés is a natural area on the banks of the Issole in Cabasse. Fishing is possible there. The valley and riverbank offer a different focus from the churches and chapels, while fishing gives the natural area a specific activity. This makes it possible to distinguish an interest in scenery and water from a trip focused on historic buildings.
The Domaine Gavoty offers another facet. The wine estate has been family-owned since 1806, and its production is organic. Visits and tastings can be arranged by appointment; be sure to schedule your visit in advance. This gives you different dates to plan around: the procession takes place every year on Easter Monday, you should check the event dates for concerts, and the wine estate requires an appointment.
Discover more destinations: Pourcieux, Le Revest-Les-Eaux, Barjols, Flassans-Sur-Issole, La Farlede, Bormes-Les-Mimosas, Tanneron, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Mer.
For the wider travel overview: Var.
