Pourcieux is a good choice for a trip that combines a manageable hike with historic sites in the same place. Nine-tenths of the commune is covered by hills, forests and vineyards. The village lies at the foot of the Mont Aurélien hills, whose summit reaches 880 metres. Mediterranean woodland and the rocky ridge of the Baou shape the landscape to the south and east. The circular Les anciennes carrières de marbre hike passes through vineyards and woodland at the foot of the Baou.
Hiking at the Baou
The Les anciennes carrières de marbre circular hike is 6 kilometres long and takes about two hours. It is rated easy and marked in yellow. This makes it a clearly defined option to include in your stay: the route links a walk through vineyards and woodland with the landscape at the foot of the Baou. Route details may change, so check the latest information on duration and trail markings before setting off. At the entrances to the former marble quarries, please note that the old quarry faces are unsecured.
On foot or along a former railway line
Another way to explore the area is the VĂ©lorail de la Sainte Baume. This pedal-powered ride follows a former railway line between Pourcieux and Saint-Maximin. It covers up to 15 kilometres there and back; the route includes a tunnel, viaducts, bridges and a former railway station. The hike is 6 kilometres long and takes about two hours, while the VĂ©lorail route is listed as up to 15 kilometres there and back. The options therefore differ both in how you travel and in the character of the route described. If you plan to take the VĂ©lorail, check the latest operating conditions in advance.
Local history and architecture
The first known mention of the castrum de Porcils, the fortified centre of Pourcieux, dates to around 1010. A stroll through the lanes leads to the seigneurial dovecote. The Château de Pourcieux is an Aix-style bastide that served as a country house. It was built in 1764 by Jules Symphorien Pazery de Thorame, the last Seigneur of Pourcieux; it has been listed in the inventory of historic monuments since 1993. One of the château’s towers is now dedicated to Notre-Dame de l’Assomption.
Other buildings also tell of different periods in the history of the village. The Pont romain entre Saint-Maximin et Pourcieux lies in the territory of Pourcieux and Saint-Maximin, along the former RN 7, and is classified as a historic monument. Its protection dates are 8 March 1943 and 23 February 2025. The historic Chapelle Saint-Martin, in the territory of Pourcieux, probably dates from the Middle Ages; in the 16th century it served as a refuge during epidemics. The ruins of a Minims monastery, abandoned in 1771, stand next to the Church of the Assumption.
The covered washhouse was built in 1910 and has separate basins for rinsing and washing. The Fontaine Vieille was also converted into a washhouse in the early 20th century. Together with the old village fortifications, the château and the Chapelle Saint-Martin, these places show the variety of historic traces in Pourcieux: from a fortified village centre to a seigneurial country house and buildings used for everyday community life.
Wine from Pourcieux
The Vignerons du Baou cooperative winery was founded in 1912 and offers wines in three colours; its speciality is rosé. If you plan to visit the winery, check in advance what visitor options are currently available.
Discover more destinations: Brignoles, La Garde-Freinet, Le Val, Nans-Les-Pins, Salernes, Boulouris-Sur-Mer, Regusse, Saint-Julien.
Go to the main travel overview: Var.
