Carcès can be explored through two distinct highlights: walks through the old village and the landscape around Lac Sainte-Suzanne. In the village, frescoes, fountains and historic buildings take centre stage; at the lake, activities include walking, cycling and observing nature. You can therefore tailor your mix of culture and outdoor activities to your interests.
Walks through the old village
The “Circuit des fresques et des fontaines” is a walking tour lasting about 1.5 hours, designed and created by the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire de La Provence Verte. It takes in ten murals on the façades of shops, the tourist office and municipal buildings, as well as the village’s 20 fountains. The tour thus offers two different perspectives on Carcès: decorated façades and the village’s fountains.
Another walking tour takes you through the medieval town and introduces its history and sights by means of numbered signs. This tour also takes about 1.5 hours on foot. The two walks are therefore of roughly similar duration, but have different focuses: one is devoted to frescoes and fountains, the other to the medieval town and its history.
The old village is known for its winding lanes, the ruins of the medieval castle and façades with glazed roof tiles. Its religious buildings include the Romanesque Chapelle Saint-Jaume, listed on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, and the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Carami. The latter has been listed as a Monument historique since 2 December 1988.
Lake, waterfall and habitats
Lac Sainte-Suzanne, commonly also called “lac de Carcès”, lies between Carcès and Cabasse. It covers 99 hectares and is fed by the Caramy and Issole rivers. Its natural environment includes reed beds and various aquatic plants, which provide habitats for numerous animal species. The lake is part of the Natura 2000 site “Val d’Argens”.
The Chutes du Caramy are a seven-metre-high double waterfall between the village of Carcès and the lake. The water flow varies with the seasons. A visit to the old village can therefore be complemented by the sights of a landscape shaped by water and lakeside vegetation.
Activities and practical information
At Lac Sainte-Suzanne, you can go walking, jogging, fishing, picnicking and cycling. Nature and birdwatching are also among the activities on offer. Depending on whether you prefer to stay active, fish or watch birds, you can enjoy the lake in different ways.
The Chutes du Caramy can be reached on foot from both the stadium and the car park by the lake; each route is 3.5 kilometres long. The “Les Chutes du Caramy et le Lac à Carcès” hike starts at the Siméon car park by the stadium. As access through the forest may be regulated during the wildfire-risk season, check local access information before setting out.
A VTC-VAE cycling tour is also described: “Lacs et châteaux” starts at the Carcès tourist office, passes through the village and continues towards the lake. It follows public roads shared with vehicles. The options therefore differ not only in transport, but also in their routes: the hike starts at the stadium, while the cycling tour starts at the tourist office.
Cultural activities and your stay
The Office de Tourisme de Carcès enables visitors to book activities and concerts in the 43 municipalities of La Provence Verte & Verdon. This can be especially useful when planning if you would like to include a specific event alongside the walks and outdoor activities.
The Médiathèque Municipale in Carcès offers workshops and exhibitions throughout the year on painting, sculpture, photography and educational topics. As the specific programme may change, it is worth checking the latest dates for particular events. Together with the walks, the landscape around the lake and the cultural activities mentioned, this gives you a range of options for your stay, although not every activity will fit into the same day.
Discover more destinations: Ampus, Saint-Julien, Forcalqueiret, La Roque-Esclapon, Toulon, Carqueiranne, La Croix-Valmer, Montauroux.
For the main travel overview: Var.
