Discover La Crau: Nature, Heritage and Hotels

La Crau combines natural attractions with historic sites and local offerings. On the wooded Mont Fenouillet, the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Fenouillet is a specific destination for walks and those interested in culture. In town, the Canal Jean Natte and Parc du Béal offer different themes: the history of water management, plants and public spaces. When planning your trip, you can arrange these highlights according to what you would like to experience in La Crau.

Mont Fenouillet and the Notre-Dame Chapel

Mont Fenouillet is a wooded, typically Mediterranean massif that is open to the public. It reaches an elevation of 291 metres and is used by walkers, families and joggers. The Chapelle Notre-Dame du Fenouillet on the massif is a pilgrimage site dating from the 12th century. A collection of ex-votos can also be viewed in the chapel.

Several paths lead from the hamlet of Notre-Dame to the chapel in about 30 minutes on foot. This makes it possible to combine a walk with a clear historical destination. The route description names the hamlet as the starting point and the chapel as the destination; for your planning, note that the stated duration is explicitly a walking time. If you are interested in religious history and expressions of devotion, the chapel offers the ex-voto collection as another point of interest alongside its role as a pilgrimage site.

Nature and sports at Vallon du Soleil

The Base nature et sports du Vallon du Soleil is located in La Crau and covers 15 hectares. It combines sporting activities with nature experiences. The site includes pine forest, garrigue and meadow areas, which are suitable for educational activities exploring local fauna and flora. These varied landscape features provide a setting for exploring nature, while sports are another focus of the site. Specific programs and access arrangements may vary; take this into account when planning a visit.

Canal Jean Natte and Parc du Béal

The Canal Jean Natte is about 9.5 kilometres long and was built in the 15th century to supply water to mills producing flour. Historically, it was also used to irrigate cultivated land and, until the 1960s, as a washing place. Today it continues to irrigate the surrounding cultivated land and gardens. Its history thus encompasses mill operations, former everyday uses and an irrigation function that continues to this day.

The Parc du Béal, a town park, lies along the Canal Jean Natte. The park showcases the built heritage and Mediterranean plant species. Its facilities include children’s play areas, a multisport court, an aviary, fountains and water features. This gives it a different focus from the paths on Mont Fenouillet: here, the town park’s facilities and its connection to the canal take centre stage, while the wooded massif and pilgrimage chapel on the mountain focus on nature and heritage.

Markets and winegrowing

During the 2026 season, the La Crau market takes place in the town centre, opposite the church on Avenue Jean Toucas. It has about 30 stalls selling local produce and other goods; the mix of stalls varies by season. During the 2026 season, the market of small local producers at Coopazur offers direct sales from around ten stalls. Check the dates for this market before visiting. The two markets have different focuses: the town-centre market offers local produce alongside other goods, while Coopazur focuses on direct sales from small local producers.

Winegrowing also shapes local history: the winegrowing tradition in La Crau began in Roman times and continues to this day, with significant production. The Les Mesclances winery offers guided tours on request; confirm availability before your arrival. At the La Castille estate, walks along the estate’s paths may be possible in connection with visits by arrangement. Check this possibility with the estate directly in advance.

Highlights for your trip

For a nature-focused stay, the wooded massif and the nature and sports centre offer different options: walking paths on Mont Fenouillet on the one hand, and sports and educational nature exploration at Vallon du Soleil on the other. Those interested in culture can explore the chapel and its ex-voto collection, as well as the history of the canal. Parc du Béal complements these themes with its connection to the canal, Mediterranean plants and park facilities. Markets and winegrowing, in turn, focus on local produce and tradition. Use these interests to plan your stay, then look for hotels in La Crau to suit your own requirements.

Discover more destinations: Correns, Trigance, Vins-Sur-Caramy, Cavalaire-Sur-Mer, Draguignan, Meounes-Les-Montrieux, Giens, Montferrat

For the main travel overview: Var.