Pont Vieux crosses the Issole as a bridge with a humped arch profile. Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole is a small village at the foot of a slope, built on the south-facing slope of a hill on the banks of the same river. This gives you two concrete points of reference for planning your trip: a distinctive structure and the river landscape that frames the village.
The Issole and Mediterranean landscape
The Issole winds along Pré de la Font and Pré de Naple. An arboretum in Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole offers insights into the diversity of Mediterranean vegetation and adds a distinct botanical perspective to the riverside setting. You can explore different landscape features: the river’s course and the vegetation at the heart of the arboretum.
Barre de Saint Quinis offers a viewpoint over the Val d’Issole. This landscape feature extends across Camps-la-Source, Sainte-Anastasie and Besse-sur-Issole. The GR9 long-distance hiking trail runs through the hills around Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole, offering views of vineyards, olive groves, evergreen oak scrub, distant mountains and the sea.
The square, church and local history
Side streets lead visitors to Place St-Just. The square is overlooked by the bell tower of the church dedicated to St-Just, with its old clock. The parish church of Sainte-Anastasie was extended with a north aisle in 1867–1868. An aisle is a part of a church that runs alongside the main space; specifying the north side locates the extension within the building.
The programme for the 19 July 2026 edition of the traditional FĂŞte votive de la Saint Just included a procession through the village. This date refers to that edition and provides a specific historical connection to local culture.
Planning walks and cycling
On the GR9, the focus is on the hills and their far-reaching views. Trail conditions may vary depending on the season; check them before your hike. The cycling option is the “Au fil de l’Issole” loop, described as 8.5 kilometres long, taking about 45 minutes and rated “very easy.” It starts at Parking les Ferrages. Before setting off, check local notices about access restrictions due to wildfires.
The two routes offer different approaches to planning: “Au fil de l’Issole” has a specified distance, approximate duration and difficulty rating, while the GR9 focuses on the views along the route. This lets you choose between a cycling loop with stated figures and a long-distance hike through the hills, without conflating their respective details.
The tourist train
The former Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole railway station is now a stop on the tourist train. The Train touristique du Centre-Var uses historic railcars; commentary on historical, tourist and cultural aspects of the Var hinterland is provided during the journey. No date is currently scheduled for the tour described, and operating dates vary seasonally. If you want to make the train journey a firm part of your plans, check the current calendar in advance.
Discover more destinations: Ginasservis, Correns, Callian, Le Castellet, La Croix-Valmer, La Mole, Saint-Martin, La Martre
For the wider travel overview: Var.
