A former oil mill dating from 1772 houses the Musée du vêtement Provençal; from the Esplanade de la Montjoie, near the ruins of the Château des Forbin, the view stretches across the Gapeau Valley to the Maures. Solliès-Ville combines historic sites with a distinctive panorama of the surrounding landscape. For planning your trip, the cultural character of the town is especially tangible: its church architecture, varied museums and local traditions offer several clearly distinct themes.

Church Architecture and Museums

The Église Saint Michel Archange was built between the late 11th and early 12th centuries and combines Romanesque and Gothic features. It offers a different historical perspective from the museums: here, architectural forms take centre stage, while the museums preserve various kinds of memorabilia. The Musée du vêtement Provençal is housed in the former oil mill dating from 1772. The Musée Jean Aicard preserves furniture in the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles from the writer’s home. It also contains letters and photographs of his friends, including Mistral and Victor Hugo. When choosing cultural themes for your trip, you can distinguish between church architecture, historic museum buildings and personal connections to the writer.

Ruins and Panorama

The ruins of the Château des Forbin also give the town’s history a specific date: in 1578, the château was looted and destroyed during a peasant revolt. Jean Aicard had the ruins classified as Monuments Historiques. From the Esplanade de la Montjoie near the ruins, the panorama extends across the Gapeau Valley to the Maures and their highest point, Notre Dame des Anges (780 m). Two different aspects are therefore brought together: the ruins recall a historical event from the 16th century, while the esplanade offers a view across the valley and mountains. If you are interested in the town’s history, you can pair this chapter with an impression of the landscape without treating the two themes as one and the same.

Local Traditions

The Cérémonie des Apôtres takes place on 24 December at 5 p.m. It includes a torchlight procession with twelve children from Solliès-Ville families, dressed in white albs. The ceremony is a longstanding tradition. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the current arrangements in advance. The Saint Loup tradition also includes an Aïoli: a village family first served it in 1905, and the tradition continues to this day. The two customs have different emphases: the Cérémonie centres on a specific date and a procession, while Saint Loup centres on culinary tradition.

Access and the Route to the Chapel

The main route to Solliès-Ville is from La Farlède via the RD 67. Road conditions and routes may change, so it is a good idea to check the current route. A steep path leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Deffend from the Les Selves district; conditions may vary. Do not plan this approach as a level stroll, and check the path conditions before setting out. The chapel was built in the 17th century on the site of a sheep pen; the local population has made pilgrimages there since 1674. If you are considering visiting it, you can take both a specific route and a long-standing religious tradition into account when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, Tourves, Aiguines, Correns, Lorgues, La Cadière-D'azur, Callas, Comps-Sur-Artuby.

Go to the main travel overview: Var.