Le Val lies in a long, narrow valley between two ranges of hills covered with pine trees and garrigue. A river runs through a landscape of vineyards, olive groves and gardens. The Ribeirotte is a lively river habitat with great ecological diversity and importance for local quality of life. Cultural history and trails through the countryside offer different ways to spend your time in Le Val.
Village walk or hike?
The cultural and historical trail takes you around the village, with numbered signs on building facades or on lecterns. This self-guided walk takes about 45 minutes; check local signage before your visit. If you’d like to plan a hike, you can choose between two very different routes: “Le Val au fil de l’eau” is 3.5 kilometres long, takes about an hour and is rated very easy. The nature trail starts on Rue Frédéric Mistral.
For a longer, more challenging route, choose “Panoramas sur Le Val”: this yellow-marked hike is 19 kilometres long, takes about six hours and 30 minutes, and starts at the Jardin théâtre car park. Check trail conditions and any fire restrictions before setting out. The approximate times and different difficulty ratings can help you plan your day, while making clear that the shorter loop is not the same as the long hike.
Chapels and historical landmarks
The Chapelle Saint-Blaise is one of the rural chapels on the so-called Chapelles trail, which leads to the Paracol hilltop. Its mention in the Charter of Paracol of 1010 links the site to an early written record. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Paracol stands at the top of the hill near the former oppidum. It is an example of Romanesque architecture and houses a statue of the Virgin Mary dating from the 9th century.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié offers another point of interest. Built in 1654, its 17th-century facade is decorated with shells and pebbles. Together with its four oratories, it has been a listed historic monument since 2000. The facade details and protected site offer a different focus from the Romanesque architecture and early medieval statue of the Virgin Mary at Paracol.
Museums and local collections
The Musée d’Art Sacré is housed in the 16th-century Chapel of the Pénitents Noirs. It displays sacred art objects, liturgical works and religious vestments, and also has a large collection of votive offerings. The Musée du santon has a different focus: housed in a former communal bread oven dating from the 12th century, it displays Provençal santons and nativity scenes from around the world. The large Crèche Rossellini is a terracotta nativity scene inspired by Naples.
Olive growing and everyday history are at the heart of the Maison de l’Olivier. It displays old tools associated with olive growing in Le Val and the Mediterranean region and is housed in part of a former oil mill dating from 1720. The Maison de la Route Médiévale, meanwhile, presents an exhibition about the medieval route from Grasse to Draguignan. It is housed in a former Romanesque house that once served as Le Val’s first town hall.
For an introduction to the area’s cultural and gastronomic heritage, the Espace Tourisme & Découverte offers information panels, exhibitions of old tools and an interactive map. Local products and handicrafts are also sold there; check opening hours and the current selection before your visit. The Point Information Tourisme is located at the Espace Tourisme et Découverte, 6, place du 4 septembre, 83143 Le Val. Check contact details before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Tavernes, Boulouris-Sur-Mer, Plan-De-La-Tour, Le Thoronet, Trans-En-Provence, Neoules, Barjols, Aups.
For the regional travel overview: Var.
