Visit

In Tourrettes, a picturesque village in the Var region, the Musée municipal Baston Ostoya, invites you to keep the search for beauty as a guiding principle. Paintings, metal and wood sculptures, modifiable sculptures and bas-reliefs are all on display.

In September 2020, the Town Council, chaired by Mr Camille Bouge, ratified the donations from artist Thomas Ostoya and Fayençois artist Denis Baston.
These generous donations to Tourrettes include numerous sculptures, paintings, gouaches, drawings and bas-reliefs.
To appropriately welcome the works of Mr Thomas Ostoya
and Denis Baston, a museum was created in the heart of the Town Hall.

Their works, marvelous and unusual, cradled in the soft light of the Tourrettane countryside, like a distant Tuscany, offer themselves to the visitor's gaze.
We welcome you.

In Tourrettes, on the small departmental road 219 that runs through the village, the Pénitents chapel, formerly known as Notre Dame de Cavaroux, with its typically Provencal bell tower, was built by the monks of Lérins in the 14th century.
Currently closed.

Adjacent to the cemetery, it was originally the tomb of the Lords of Tourrettes.
In the 17th century, it became the chapel of the Confrérie des Pénitents Blancs.
The penitents were exclusively lay people, representing all social classes.
Their charitable work of public assistance and distress relief extended to the widest fields until the French Revolution.
Each penitent wore a robe called a "sac", usually attached to a hood, which enabled them to work anonymously.
The color designates a specific charitable action and a recognized religious patronage.

On this walk, you'll discover the restored old Boudoura washhouse and the ruins of the burnt-out Moulin, now disused. The forest is bordered to the north by the Siagnole, to the south by the Camiole and to the west by the Chautard. Que d'eau, Que d'eau!

Please note:
To the north of the Tuilerie or Tuilière plateau, and Lavagne, stretches the Foret Domaniale de Tourrettes, criss-crossed by numerous canals and aqueducts, underground or otherwise, riddled with manholes and water catchments: les Acates, le Jas Neuf, Fontanouille, and Font-Bouillen.

> STARTING POINT:
In the village, park at the Boudoura parking lot below the church.

> ROUTE:

1 - From the Boudoura parking lot, climb up to the wash-house.

2 - Climb to the right along a small asphalt road called chemin de la Tuilière.

3 - After the Chautard bridge, at the crossroads, stay on chemin de la Tuilière.

4 - At the crossroads, stay on the Chemin de la Tuilière, which bears right.

5 - Reach the plateau and turn right onto chemin de Lavagne, continuing for 800 m to a crow's-foot with fire hydrant and P.O. box no. 705.

6 - At P.O. box 705, turn left to join the forest track, which you take on the right.
After 500 m, pass the Talent fountain (former mayor of Tourrettes).

7 - At the crossroads of large tracks (Velnasques milestone), continue right on a dirt track which ends in a tarmac road.

8 - From the asphalt road, take the footpath straight ahead (level with a large oak tree on the right). The path runs alongside several houses and ends in a small tarmac road.

9 - At the end of the path, find a tarmac road called Chemin du vieux Moulin, which you should keep to the right.

10 - Continue along the Chemin du Vieux Moulin. Descend towards Le Chautard and the Vieux Moulin ruin, cross the first stone bridge and continue uphill.

11 - Before the bridge with metal gates, turn right and complete a very steep climb: 100 metres, staying on the tarmac road. Go past the cemetery, then right to the start parking lot.

VISITOR ALERT

During the summer months, please check the opening hours of the mountain ranges before setting off.
This circuit is located in the Plateau de Canjuers massif.
Consult the map updated daily by the prefecture: www.risque-prevention-incendie.fr/var/

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

The village of Tourrettes, awarded the Village de Caractère label in 2020, is also well worth a visit. This picturesque village offers you the chance to discover an astonishing open-air museum!
- Guided tour every day on request: 06 27 44 65 91

Ideally located on Place de la Mairie, right next to painter Christel Leleu's studio and La Vigne Vincent restaurant, the stone-walled showroom welcomes artists and craftspeople on a temporary basis all year round.

The Tourrettes Exhibition Hall offers an interesting setting
between arcades and old stones, with natural light thanks to its three windows, and a lovely view over the village square.
The rental conditions are attractive:
rent is €50 per week.
Bookings can be made with Mr Bernard Montagne, elected member of the Tourrettes Town Council's Culture Committee, and the Town Council's Service Accueil.