Carces: Culture, Lake and Waterfalls

Carcès offers a mix of historic streets, cultural walks and the landscape around Lac Sainte-Suzanne. When looking for a hotel for your stay, you could first consider whether you plan to spend more time in the medieval town center, enjoying activities by the water or hiking to the Chutes du Caramy. These places and routes offer different highlights and help you shape your trip around your interests.

The old village and its walking routes

The old village of Carcès is known for its winding lanes, the ruins of its medieval castle and facades with glazed roof tiles. A walking route through the medieval town takes about an hour and a half. Numbered signs share its history and points of interest.

The “Circuit des fresques et des fontaines” also takes about an hour and a half. It was created and developed by the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire de La Provence Verte. Along the way, it leads past ten murals on the facades of shops, the tourist office and municipal buildings, as well as the village’s twenty fountains. The two routes offer different highlights: one explores history and points of interest with the help of numbered signs, while the other connects murals and fountains.

Two chapels also offer different cultural points of interest. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Carami has been listed as a Monument historique since December 2, 1988. The Romanesque Chapelle Saint-Jaume is listed on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.

Lac Sainte-Suzanne and the Chutes du Caramy

Lac Sainte-Suzanne, commonly known as “lac de Carcès,” lies between Carcès and Cabasse. It covers 99 hectares and is fed by the Caramy and Issole rivers. The lake is part of the Natura 2000 site “Val d’Argens.” Reeds and various aquatic plants along its shores provide habitats for many animal species.

At Lac Sainte-Suzanne, you can walk, jog, fish, picnic and cycle, as well as observe nature and birds. Swimming is not permitted. The lake is therefore a destination for activities along the shore and nature watching, not for swimming.

Between the village of Carcès and the lake lie the Chutes du Caramy, a seven-meter-high double waterfall. Water flow varies by season. The waterfalls can be reached on foot from either the stadium or the parking lot by the lake; both routes are 3.5 kilometers long. The “Les Chutes du Caramy et le Lac à Carcès” hike starts at the Siméon parking lot by the stadium. During the forest fire risk season, access to forest areas may be regulated. Check local notices before setting out.

Activities and practical information

A cycling tour also leads from a cultural point of interest toward the lake: the “Lacs et châteaux” VTC-VAE tour starts at the tourist office, passes through the village and continues toward Lac Sainte-Suzanne. It follows public roads that are also used by vehicles. This sets it apart from the walking routes described above.

The Office de Tourisme de Carcès offers bookings for activities and concerts in the 43 municipalities of La Provence Verte & Verdon. For a cultural program in the village, the Médiathèque Municipale offers a variety of workshops and exhibitions throughout the year on painting, sculpture, photography and educational topics. If you are planning a specific visit, check the Médiathèque’s current program.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Martin, Le Cannet-Des-Maures, Garéoult, Les Adrets-De-L'estérel, Tanneron, Tavernes, Bargemon, Saint-Tropez.

See the broader travel guide: Var.