Tavernes: Olive Oil, History and Hiking Trails

Tavernes lies in an agricultural plain dotted with vineyards and olive trees. Olive oil, the history of Saint-Cassien Church and hikes with specific route details offer different ways to shape your stay. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tavernes, these topics can help you choose what to explore based on your travel interests: a March event, an interest in architectural history or a route with a stated distance and duration.

Olive Oil and Rural Character

The Journado de l’Oli celebrates the new olive oil every year in March. The program includes a tour of the mill, a tasting of newly produced olive oil, regional products, folk performances, a demonstration of olive-tree pruning and a large Aïoli meal. Event dates may vary; if you’d like to plan your stay around the festival, check the specific date in advance.

In Tavernes, La Tavernaise offers tours of the oil mill, as well as olive oil tastings and sales. It produces French extra virgin olive oil in green-fruity, ripe-fruity and traditional styles, as well as flavored oils. La Tavernaise has held the AOP Provence designation since 2008 and has been certified organic since 2009. The different product types give you specific points to consider when deciding which aspects of olive oil you’d be most interested in during a tour or tasting.

Saint-Cassien Church

Saint-Cassien Church is mentioned as early as the 11th century. After suffering severe damage during the Wars of Religion, it was rebuilt in the 17th century; the bell tower was reconstructed in the early 19th century. These dates relate to different events: the early mention should be distinguished from the later rebuilding, and the reconstruction specifically concerns the bell tower. This places the building’s history in the context of several historical phases, rather than attributing all the changes to a single date.

Hiking: Routes and Views

The “Des pierres et des jeux” hiking route is 6.5 kilometers long, takes about three hours and has 270 meters of ascent; it is rated easy. The route follows the Chemin de Notre-Dame to the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel. For planning purposes, the duration is an estimate, not an exact schedule; the easy rating is a separate route classification that complements the specific distance and elevation figures.

A hike can be extended by three kilometers round trip to the Trois Croix viewpoint. The viewpoint is at an altitude of 690 meters and offers a 360-degree panorama and orientation panels. The three kilometers refer to the round trip, not the distance in each direction. Both the destination and the length of this extension are clearly specified.

These topics offer different ways to plan your trip: the olive oil festival takes place every year in March, the history of Saint-Cassien spans several building phases, and the hiking route has a stated distance, approximate duration and ascent. You can consider the timing, your interest in history and the kind of hike you’re looking for as separate criteria for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Mazaugues, Vidauban, Trigance, Carces, Le Cannet-Des-Maures, Rayol-Canadel-Sur-Mer, Taradeau, Bauduen

See the main travel overview: Var.