The 10 most beautiful castles in Var
10 châteaux
Chosen among 51 recorded castles
What to see in Var when you only have a weekend: the 10 most visited castles according to their visitors’ reviews, among those open to the public whose visiting conditions we checked on the official website. For each: what you see, the entry price, the link to the full entry.
Ranked by attendance, from the number of Google reviews. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.
No. 1
Château du Rayol (Rayol Castle)
Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer
On the corniche des Maures, facing the Îles d'Hyères, the Domaine du Rayol is a landscaped garden spanning several hectares devoted to the world's Mediterranean-type climates.
No. 2
Château de Grimaud (Grimaud Castle)
Grimaud
Above the village of Grimaud, in the Var department, the remains of a medieval stronghold overlook the town and the bay of Saint-Tropez. What survives today is only a ruin, but it dates back to at least the 11th century.
Free entryHours, prices and access
No. 3
Château d'Hyères
Hyères
Perched on the Castéou hill, the ruins of Hyères castle overlook the town and the surrounding bay. This medieval fortress, now in ruins, dates back to the 11th century and reflects the old defensive network along the Var coastline. The climb rewards visitors with an open view over Hyères and its hinterland.
No. 4
Château Sainte-Agathe (Sainte-Agathe Castle)
Hyères
Perched above the island of Porquerolles, the Sainte-Agathe fort overlooks the village and the harbour from its lookout position. The structure consists of a cylindrical artillery tower, surrounded by a defensive wall and an outer bastion.
Adult €6Hours, prices and access
No. 5
Château de Forbin (Forbin Castle)
Solliès-Ville
In Solliès-Ville, the ruins of the château de Forbin stand above the village that once bore this powerful Provençal family's name. The site owes much of its interest to Louis de Forbin, lord of the estate, a magistrate of Provence's sovereign courts and later a royal ambassador in the early sixteenth century.
No. 6
Domaine d'Orvès
La Valette-du-Var
At La Valette-du-Var, near Toulon, the Orvès estate combines a Provençal country house from the late 17th century with a terraced garden recognised as a remarkable garden.
Adult €8Hours, prices and access
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No. 7
Château de Saint-Martin-de-Pallières
Saint-Martin-de-Pallières
Perched on a hillock overlooking the village and the Pallières plateau, the château of Saint-Martin-de-Pallières keeps the outline of a square keep flanked by four towers, a legacy of a feudal dwelling first recorded in the 13th century.
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No. 8
Château-fort de Callian (Callian Castle)
Callian
At the top of the hilltop village of Callian, in the Var department, this medieval hilltop castle has overlooked the surrounding streets for centuries.
No. 9
Château de Pontevès (Pontevès Castle)
Pontevès
Standing on a rocky spur overlooking the plain in the Var region, Pontevès castle survives today as ruins, remnants of a powerful lordship first recorded in the 11th century.
No. 10
Château de Forcalqueiret (Forcalqueiret Castle)
Forcalqueiret
Perched on a spur of the Thèmes massif at 435 metres above sea level, the ruins of Forcalqueiret castle overlook the Issole valley from roughly a hundred metres up. This 11th-century fortified site once controlled the route linking Brignoles to Toulon and kept visual contact with the neighbouring castle of Rocbaron.
Every castle in Var (51)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Var?
- The most visited in Var is Château du Rayol, first in this selection according to its visitors’ reviews. All 10 castles listed are open to visitors with checked hours.
- How much does a visit cost?
- The adult entry price is shown under each castle when the official website publishes it; 1 of these castles are free.
- How is this selection made?
- Among the 51 castles recorded in Var, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.