Les Mayons: Nature and Village History

Les Mayons brings together nature, hiking and local history as distinct themes to consider when planning a trip. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide which focus you would like to shape your stay: the natural area of the Plaine des Maures, the Pin Pignon route, or the historical heritage in the municipality and its surroundings. This makes it easier to plan your visit around the interests that matter to you.

Natural Area and Environmental Education

The Réserve naturelle nationale de la plaine des Maures also includes the municipality of Les Mayons. In the Plaine des Maures, protected habitats provide a home for species including the European pond turtle, the Hermann’s tortoise, the ocellated lizard and several frog species. You can also observe 134 bird species and 32 mammal species there, including 9 bat species.

The Maison départementale de la nature des Mayons offers another perspective on nature. Created and managed by the Var Department, the center promotes environmental activities and education. It is located between the Massif des Maures and the Plaine des Maures, at the foot of the village of Les Mayons, and is surrounded by two hectares of meadows and olive trees. Here, the landscape and environmental education provide distinct ways to explore nature.

Hiking in the Plaine des Maures

The Pin Pignon hike begins at the Fabrique car park at the entrance to Les Mayons. Its route passes through chestnut groves, maritime pine forests and cork oak forests, by a secluded cabanon, and on to a viewpoint overlooking a mountain basin. It combines a variety of woodland landscapes with a specific viewpoint as its destination.

The “Balade dans la plaine des Maures” route runs partly within the Réserve naturelle nationale de la plaine des Maures. The two hikes therefore have different connections to the area: Pin Pignon starts at the entrance to Les Mayons, while part of the Balade runs through the nature reserve.

Village History and Local Connections

Les Mayons became a municipality by decree of Napoleon III on November 7, 1863, under the name Mayons du Luc. An earlier landmark is the Grand-père châtaignier: this venerable chestnut tree was planted in the Middle Ages and serves as a monument in Les Mayons. These two historical landmarks span the period from a medieval tree to the municipality’s establishment in the 19th century.

The Church of Saint Jean was built in the 17th century and houses a painting from the same century. It depicts the Crucifixion with John, Mary and the Grail. Alongside the history of the church building, the painting presents a specific religious subject. There were also iron mines near Les Mayons, by the hamlets of Rascas and Valpayette, adding a connection to mining to the area’s history.

Local produce also reflects two aspects of the area. At Les Ruchers des Maures, Lucien Lamoine, a beekeeper and chestnut grower in Les Mayons, offers products from his beehives and chestnut trees. Check before your visit to see whether the offer is still available.

Discover more destinations: Tourrettes, Pignans, Boulouris-Sur-Mer, Evenos, Carces, Nans-Les-Pins, Saint-Martin, Les Adrets-De-L'estérel.

For the broader travel overview: Var.