Pourcieux between Mont Aurélien and cultural heritage

Pourcieux lies at the foot of the hills of Mont Aurélien, whose summit reaches 880 metres. Hills, forests and vineyards cover nine tenths of the commune. To the south and east, Mediterranean woodland and the Baou rock ridge shape the landscape. Pourcieux offers a range of options for planning your trip: a signposted circular hike, routes through vineyards and woodland, and a layered architectural history.

Landscape, Hiking and Cycling

The circular hike Les anciennes carrières de marbre passes through vineyards and woodland at the foot of the Baou. It is six kilometres long, rated easy and marked in yellow; the walk takes about two hours. Route details and markings may change. Check the latest information before setting out.

Another cycling route, De Pourrières à Pourcieux par le vignoble à vélo, runs from Pourrières to Pourcieux through vineyards and along small, picturesque paths. As with this route, it is worth checking the information before setting off, as details may change.

The Vélorail de la Sainte Baume runs along a former railway line between Pourcieux and Saint-Maximin. The ride covers up to 15 kilometres there and back; the route includes a tunnel, viaducts, bridges and a former railway station. This offers a choice of different route experiences: the hike passes vineyards and woodland at the foot of the Baou, while railway structures shape the Vélorail route. Operating arrangements may change; check them before planning your visit.

History and Buildings

The Château de Pourcieux was built in 1764 by Jules Symphorien Pazery de Thorame, the last Seigneur of Pourcieux. It is an Aix-style bastide and served as a country house. It has been listed in the inventory of historic monuments since 1993. The first known mention of the castrum de Porcils, the fortified centre of Pourcieux, dates from around 1010. These mark two distinct points in the village’s history: the early mention of its fortified centre and the later construction of the château.

One of the towers of the Château de Pourcieux is now dedicated to Notre-Dame de l’Assomption. Next to the Church of the Assumption are the ruins of a Minim friary, abandoned in 1771. A walk through the lanes of Pourcieux leads to the seigneurial dovecote. These buildings provide tangible landmarks in the village’s history, whose origins cannot be reduced to a single period.

The historic Chapelle Saint-Martin probably dates from the Middle Ages and served as a refuge during epidemics in the 16th century. The covered washhouse in Pourcieux was built in 1910; its separate basins were used for rinsing and washing. The Pont romain entre Saint-Maximin et Pourcieux is classified as a Monument historique. Its protection dates are 8 March 1943 and 23 February 2025. The bridge lies in the communes of Pourcieux and Saint-Maximin, on the former RN 7.

Wine from Pourcieux

The Vignerons du Baou cooperative winery in Pourcieux was founded in 1912. It offers wines in three colours, with rosé as its speciality. If you are planning a visit, check the winery’s services in advance. This lets you include local wine in your trip plans without conflating it with the hiking or cultural routes.

Discover more destinations

Le Beausset, Mazaugues, Montmeyan, Carces, Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, La Celle, La Motte, Saint-Antonin-Du-Var

For the main travel overview: Var.