We’ve visited many villages in Provence over the years, but we might have found one of the most beautiful ones to date. In this video, we’re taking you to Tourtour, a beautiful Provencal village in the South of France.
We’re sharing sites to see, where to eat, and where to stay. We’ll also show you a few day trips, from nearby villages to the French Riviera, so by the end you’ll know if Tourtour is worth adding to your Provence itinerary and how to experience it the best way.
Tourtour Provence France
Tourtour, or Village dans le Ciel (meaning Village in the Sky) is a charming medieval hilltop village located in the Var department of southeastern France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. We were lucky enough to stay here for a week in mid September during our Provence road trip, in a beautiful old Provençal house that is now a guesthouse. We’ll share more about the house and its lovely history soon.
Over the years, we’ve visited many villages across Provence, but after spending time in Tourtour, we can honestly say it has become our favourite. There is something about this place that feels special. It is calm, quiet, and incredibly peaceful.
Tourtour is actually part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (« The Most Beautiful Villages of France »). This association promotes and protects over a 170 small rural French villages to make sure they preserve their exceptional cultural heritage since 1982.
Where to Stay in Tourtour
We were invited by a lovely woman named Lieke from Lovenests on Instagram who has crafted the most beautiful holiday home in Tourtour called La Charmante and allowed us to enjoy it for 6 nights. And we could not be happier with our experience. Our favourite thing about it was that we got to live the Quintessential Provence experience, the feeling of everyday life in a Provence village, and it didn’t just feel like any trip.
A little about the history…
In 2023 she decided to take a risk and buy a small village home in Tourtour, Provence. It was a place she had long dreamed of calling home, even if only for holidays. The house was old, affordable, and full of character, but in desperate need of some TLC.
Together with her partner, they took on the challenge. He focused on the renovation while she planned, sourced, and designed the interior. They wanted a space that felt warm, thoughtful, and true to the village’s history. It wasn’t always easy. They carried materials through narrow streets and dealt with delays and summer heat. But the process brought them closer and made the project more meaningful. Today, the house is a cozy little retreat that feels like stepping into a story.
Every piece of furniture and decor was carefully curated and chosen to make you feel like a character in your own rom com. As soon as we walked in, we were impressed with how clearly everything was explained, from using the amenities to finding brocante markets in Tourtour and nearby villages. More on that later.
Our favourite moments here were the simple ones, like cooking together in the beautiful kitchen and enjoying our meals as a family in the dining room, either inside or out on the patio on clear, sunny days. In the evenings, we loved winding down with a warm bath in the stunning clawfoot tub upstairs while the sun set. The views from this room are incredible, although each room in the house gives you its own unique perspective of the village.
All of their information is in the description if you want to check it out and book a stay there yourself, which we couldn’t recommend enough. This isn’t a sponsored post, we just genuinely enjoyed our stay and think you will love it just as much.
Best Things to Do in Tourtour
Even though Tourtour is small, there’s a lot to explore. Every narrow street seems to lead to something even more beautiful than the last, from hidden boutiques and restaurants to little corners with amazing views.
You’ll also notice there are quite a few art galleries around the village. That’s because artists have been coming here for years, drawn to the soft golden light, peaceful setting, and incredible scenery. Famous artists like Bernard Buffet once lived here, which helped put Tourtour on the map as a creative spot. Today, you’ll still find painters, sculptors, and local artists working and showing their art throughout the village.
Other than exploring the art galleries, the main place to see is the central square in the heart of the village. It’s filled with restaurants, cafés, and colourful string lights that look especially pretty in the evening.
Right next to it is another open square under the beautiful, castle-like town hall, where they host regular flea markets and brocante markets, and farmers markets every Wednesday and Sunday morning. We actually bought most of the vegetables for the ratatouille we cooked from one of the stands, so it’s a great place to pick up fresh local produce and cook a nice dinner while supporting local farmers. On another day we grabbed ready-made food like roasted chicken and potatoes, which was also delicious.
Don’t skip the brocante market either. We found some amazing antique pieces for such good prices. Sadly we couldn’t take most of them home, but we did buy two gorgeous vintage plates for 5€ each. This square is also where locals gather to play pétanque, a traditional French game similar to bocce.
Then just up the hill from the mairie (town hall) is Église Saint-Denis. It’s a small and simple church, but the views from up there are incredible, especially at sunset when you can sit on one of the benches and take it all in.
Best Places to Eat in Tourtour
For a lovely evening at a restaurant, we highly suggest going to La Table. A charming restaurant with set menus at different price points serving delicious dishes prepared by a trained chef. Perfect for date night. Just make sure you make a reservation in advance as it is popular and has limited tables. Everything was delicious and the service was amazing.
This restaurant has a Bib Gourmand. A Bib Gourmand is a restaurant award from the Michelin Guide. It means the food is really good quality, but also good value for money. So you can expect a great meal without paying super high, fine-dining prices.
Walking Trails Around Tourtour
There are lots of easy and scenic walks you can do from Tourtour and around the village. Most trails are gentle countryside paths through olive groves, forests, and viewpoints. So you don’t need to be super fit. Many walks range from 30 minutes to 2 hours and are great for a relaxed morning or sunset stroll.
If you want something longer, there are a few hikes of around 3 to 4 hours with light hills and beautiful views over Provence, but nothing too intense. Overall, it’s a great area for beginner to moderate hikers who just want pretty scenery without a tough climb.
Day Trips from Tourtour
Tourtour is perfectly located right in the middle of many beautiful villages and must-visit spots in Provence.
You’re close to places like Aups, which has a big brocante market once a month on Sundays. Cotignac (one of our favourites with colourful shutters everywhere). Salernes with its pretty details. Sillans-la-Cascade with a stunning waterfall. And Villecroze, known for the troglodyte caves.
You’re also near famous spots like Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a stunning village built into the cliff. And the Verdon Gorge, where renting a self-drive boat through the canyon is a must.
Within about an hour and a half you can reach Aix-en-Provence with its 250+ fountains, and even the French Riviera like Nice or Antibes. Tourtour works well as a base for day trips, or as a day trip itself if you’re staying in Nice. Renting a car is strongly recommended, as public transport in this area is very limited and not frequent.
Other Places to Stay in Tourtour
If you’re feeling splurgy…
Some not so splurgy (medium budget options)…
Budget friendly options…
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