La Garde: Nature Trails and Cultural Heritage

When planning your trip to La Garde, you can focus on nature, walking trails or cultural heritage. The Espace nature départemental du Plan combines a large reed bed with an arboretum, gardens and other areas. The Chemin des paysages passes through the Forêt du Thouars to viewpoints overlooking the cité du Rocher; there is also an underwater trail and a museum in the former family home, Les Lauriers roses. You can therefore tailor your time in La Garde to nature watching, a particular trail or cultural interests.

Nature and Trails at the Espace nature départemental du Plan

The Espace nature départemental du Plan covers 130 hectares and is one of the Espaces Naturels Sensibles. It includes a large reed bed, an arboretum, gardens, an observation tower, and play and fitness areas. The ponds are home to more than 200 recorded bird species. If you would like to include nature watching in your trip, the birdlife is a specific highlight of this area. At the same time, its different areas offer various options for planning your visit.

For planning your route, the length and type of trail are useful to know: the site has 16 km of paths and a 2.5 km bridle path. Some paths run over land, while others use boardwalks over the water, and they are accessible to people with reduced mobility. If you are choosing between walking paths and the bridle path, you can take the relevant distances into account when planning. The described sections combine land paths with boardwalks over the water.

Walks and Viewpoints

The Chemin des paysages comprises marked walking trails through the Forêt du Thouars, offering views of La Garde’s cité du Rocher. Two of the trails can be compared by distance and approximate duration: the Chemin des oliviers vue sur mer is 4.3 km long and takes about one hour. The Chemin du pin parasol sur le toit de La Garde is listed as 5.2 km and about one hour and 15 minutes. The second route is therefore 0.9 km longer, and its approximate duration is around 15 minutes greater. These estimates can help you weigh up how much time to allow for a walk.

The Sentier sous-marin de l’Anse Magaud

The Sentier sous-marin de l’Anse Magaud offers a chance to discover the seabed in La Garde. You can reach the trail on foot from the Magaud roundabout: the Chemin de la Mer leads to the beaches; then follow the beach to the end of the cove. Check local conditions before setting out. You can consider this activity as a separate option alongside walks through the Forêt du Thouars and plan your routes according to your interests.

Culture and Practical Information

The Musée Jean Aicard-Paulin Bertrand is located in La Garde in the former family home, Les Lauriers roses. It holds the designations “Musée de France” and “Maison d’écrivain.” The museum is therefore a specific cultural point of interest for planning your trip, complementing the city’s nature and trail attractions.

The Maison du tourisme in La Garde provides practical information and helps visitors discover the city’s heritage, activities and leisure options. If you would like to plan your activities in advance, this information can help with your arrangements. Check current service details before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Gassin, Sollies-Toucas, Pourcieux, Lorgues, Le Flayosquet, Bargème, Moissac-Bellevue, Roquebrune-Sur-Argens.

For the broader travel overview: Var.