Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

112  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

9Lorgues 0Abbaye du with the two Romanesque
Road map D4. * 9,341. @ Thoronet abbeys of Sénanque (see
n 12 rue du 8 mai (04 94 73 92 37). Road map D4. 83340 Le Thoronet. pp168–9) and Silvacane (see
( Tue. ∑ lorgues-tourisme.fr p151), it is known as one of
Tel 04 94 60 43 90. Open daily. the three “Cistercian sisters”
Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 1 & 11 Nov,
Nestling on a slope beneath oak 25 Dec. & 7 restricted. 8 = of Provence.
and pine woodland, Lorgues is The cool geometry of the
surrounded by vineyards and Founded in 1146, Le Thoronet church, cloister, dormitory
olive groves. Its old town was was the first Cistercian and chapter house reflects
fortified in the 12th century. building in Provence. Lost in the austerity of Cistercian
Today, two 14th-century gates deep woodland, it occupies principles. Only the bell tower
and city wall remains can be seen. a typically remote site. Along breaks with the order’s strict
The town centre’s handsome building regulations: instead
square is shaded by a large plane of wood, it is made of stone,
tree. Lorgues has many 18th- to enable it to withstand the
century municipal buildings and strong Provençal winds.
monuments and one of France’s Dilapidated by the
longest plane-tree avenues. 1400s, the abbey was finally
In the centre of town is the abandoned in 1791. Its
stately Collégiale St-Martin, restoration, like that of many
consecrated in 1788. Its organ, medieval Provençal buildings,
dating from 1857, is the finest was instigated by Prosper
example of the work of the Mérimée, Romantic novelist
Augustin Zeiger factory, Lyon. and Napoleon III’s Inspector
Also on display is a marble of Historic Monuments,
Virgin and Child (1694) which who visited in 1834.
came from the Abbaye du Just beside the abbey is the
Thoronet and is attributed Graceful cloisters on the north side of the modern Monastère de Bethléem,
to the school of Pierre Puget. Abbaye du Thoronet home to Cistercian nuns.
qCôtes de Provence Tour 6 Entrecasteaux
From Entrecasteaux, dominated
by its huge 17th-century château,
The Côtes de Provence wine-growing region reaches follow signs for Les Saigues to find
from the Haut Var to the coast. Dozens of roadside Château Mentone, which Les
vineyards offer tastings and a chance to buy. This rural produces organic wines. Saigues
route suggests a few accessible and well-regarded Château
Mentone
producers, starting at the Maison des Vins in Les Arcs.
Here you can find out about local wines, plot your own
route, buy wine from the producers, and even book to
stay at a vineyard. The tour passes a few interesting
towns en route. For more information on the
region’s wines, see pages 206–7. Argens

Tips for Drivers Domaine de
l’Abbaye
Tour length: 100 km (62 miles).
Stopping-off points: The Maison
des Vins should be your first
stopping point – it is open all 4 Le Thoronet
day. Around the route motorists The Domaine de l’Abbaye
should have no difficulty in vineyard is named after Le
spotting places to stop and Thoronet’s beautiful abbey.
sample, though many of the wine
producers close between noon 5 Carcès
and 2pm. The Lac de Carcès As you head north, the Lac de Key
makes a good place for a picnic. Carcès is on the left in a steep
(See also pp250–51.) valley. The town’s castle remains Tour route
and gardens are worth seeing. Other roads

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp199–200 and pp211–12