Top 9 Things to Do in Draguignan on your next trip

Draguignan is a municipality in the Var region. It is located in the province of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, in south-eastern France. It is a departmental sub-prefecture and self-proclaimed “Town of Artillery” and “Porte du Verdon.” St. Tropez is 42 km from the town and Nice is 80 km north. Let’s take a look at the list of things to do in Draguignan

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Things to Do in Draguignan

Here is the list of top things to do in Draguignan
1. Chapelle Saint-Hermentaire
2. Malmont Table d’Orientation
3. Tour de l’Horloge
4. Parc Chabran
5. Pierre de la Fée
6. Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires
7. Abbaye du Thoronet
8. Seillans
9. Musée Municipal d’Art et Histoire

1. Chapelle Saint-Hermentaire

A few kilometres south of the middle is a spot that has a lot to do with the origin tale of Draguignan. This is where, according to legend, St Hermentaire killed the dragon who in the dark ages had terrorised the Carolingian community. Since the 6th century the small church that stands here has existed in one form or another, while the present architecture is from around the 1000s. This was all constructed on top of a Gallo-Roman villa and bath that from the 1st century BC to the 200s must have existed here.

2. Malmont Table d’Orientation

Malmont is a mountain of 551 meters of calcareous soil, eight kilometres north of Draguignan. It is situated in the Pyrénéo-Provençale line and is a natural balcony with breathtaking views reaching to every corner of the world. From the peak, there’s so much to see that you have a table of orientation labelling many of the features, both natural and man-made, that are apparent on a clear day.

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3. Tour de l’Horloge

The square-shaped clock tower of Draguignan occupies the town on a hillock. You will travel up to the peak and ponder the Provençal landscape from the beginning of June to the end of September, and off in the distance to the south, you will see the Massif de Maures. The roof of the tower has bartizans on all four sides, designed after its restoration in the 1660s. In fact, the Tour de l’Horloge is the fourth tower that stood on this mountain: it was here that the castle of Draguignan used to be but the fortress was destroyed three times in conflicts between the 11th and 17th centuries.

4. Parc Chabran

The Chabran district of Draguignan has served the French Army for over 100 years. But recently, as the older barracks became outdated for military use, they were converted into plush housing and the land around them was landscaped and opened to the public. Here Parc Chabran is three hectares of beautiful gardens with lawns, flower beds, boardwalks and contaminated plants, rendered much more majestic by the grand old barrack houses overlooking the estate.

5. Pierre de la Fée

A few minutes outside the town is this dolmen that might have been placed together about 5,000 years earlier in the Copper Age. The memorial is constructed entirely of local calcareous and has an unusual broad slab for a roof backed by three strong rocks. The height of the supporting walls is something that sets the Pierre de la Fée away from other dolmens, who are both just over two metres. Many years earlier, people trying to get pregnant would call on the Pierre de Fée for his alleged forces of fertility.

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6. Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires

Essential for those in love with the countryside of Provence and its way of life, this museum will introduce you to the modest artisans who have developed the history and landscape over hundreds of years. You can get a view on traditional crafts such as cork production, olive cultivation and wine-growing on the ground floor and see the ancient trade tools neatly laid out. Go upstairs to get the low-down on local culinary know-how and see traditional furniture, clothes, ceramics and glassware, as well as hear about the famous festivals in the area.

7. Abbaye du Thoronet

This majestic former Cistercian monastery was founded on the 13th-century cusp, and with so many of its structures still intact, it offers an unrivalled insight at a medieval monk’s life. This was a sparse and structured life, epitomised by the exquisite acoustics that allowed monks to sing in absolute synchronicity. This is one of the recommended things to do in Draguignan.

8. Seillans

A picturesque half-hour northeasterly road trip will carry you to Seillans’ broad town, also listed among the most beautiful in France. The middle is incredibly stunning, crowded on a steep hilltop, so small and vertiginous that you can see it just through the foot. While the local landscape is typical Provence, with cypress plants, craggy outcrops and hills filled with vineyards and pine woodland. You will visit the artist Max Ernst’s house, who moved here in the 1960s and at the top of the village is a castle and church from the 13th century. This is one of the best things to do in Draguignan.

Also read: Best Things to Do in Ermont for a Peaceful Vacation

9. Musée Municipal d’Art et Histoire

With six rooms of painting and artefacts, Draguignan’s art and history museum are small but certainly worth a glance. Registration is open, and Rembrandt, Rubens and Paul Delaroche have parts there. You should still search out Art Nouveau vases, Moustiers and Sèvres fine porcelain, Louis XIV furniture and the gilded wooden lectern that should have been seen at the coronation of Charles VII at Reims in 1429. A standout is François de Montmorency’s 16th-century weapon, a Crown of France’s Grand Officer. Perhaps one of the best things to do in Draguignan is the location of Fréjus’s old summer home.

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Plan your trip with Pickyourtrail.

Draguignan is often known as Verdon’s Gateway, and the Gorges du Verdon’s life-changing landscape is incredibly similar to the north. There are a ton of interesting things to do in Draguignan. Plan your trip the help of reputed travel agency Pickyourtrail. Log on to www.Pickyourtrail.com and with the help of your expert guides start planning your trip or check out the preset packages. Alternatively, leave a Whatsapp inquiry for more options.