Our favorites around Chateaudouble

Grocery Shopping

Grand Frais, 2 km after the highway exit at Le Muy. Or in Draguignan, a small town 15 minutes from Châteaudouble, where there are several options like Carrefour or InterMarché.

Cheese

La Pastourelle, at the bottom of Châteaudouble village. They have excellent sheep, goat, or cow tomme cheeses.

Market Days

  • Tuesday: Lorgues, Figanières

  • Wednesday: Draguignan, Salernes, Aups

  • Thursday: Les Arcs-sur-Argens, Le Muy, Bargemon

  • Friday: Châteaudouble, La Motte, Lorgues (producers market from May to October)

  • Saturday: Draguignan, Callas, Claviers, Taradeau, Montferrat, Aups

  • Sunday: Le Muy, Vidauban, Salernes, Trans-en-Provence, Ampus

Restaurants in Ampus

  • Les Braconniers (+33 4 94 68 34 85): Country bistro frequented by locals, but also by many Dutch and British people who have houses in the region.

  • Terre et Papilles (+33 6 25 44 57 46): A very friendly mother and daughter who offer more refined dishes.

  • Le Bistronomique (+33 6 95 07 64 00): Perfect for lunch.

Restaurant in Figanières

  • Le Bar du Caou (+33 9 88 47 66 56): In a typically Provençal setting, on the terrace next to the fountain. Excellent daily specials at very reasonable prices.

An Excellent Restaurant in Draguignan

  • Pulpe (+33 4 83 11 84 15): Guest chefs for long or short periods. The owner is a young woman who has roots in a vineyard in the region. The selection of local wines is really interesting.

Don't forget that a reservation is always a good idea and that restaurants close in the afternoon after 2pm. Unfortunately, avoid the restaurant in Châteaudouble.

The Best Restaurant in the Region

Le Bistro École at Esparron-de-Pallières (+33 4 94 80 10 53): A charming café-restaurant-grocery store located in the heart of Esparron village in the former communal school dating from 1906, transformed in 2015 into an inn. Offering authentic local cuisine made with seasonal and local products, the establishment provides an original setting with its summer terrace in the shaded courtyard and its interior decor subtly reminiscent of the building's past as a school. It's a long drive (1:15), but well worth the time to get there. On your way, you can stop in Tourtour, Aups, Villecroze, Sillans-la-Cascade, Fox-Amphoux, or Salernes, which are all beautiful villages.

The Gorges of Châteaudouble

Not as high as the Verdon Gorges, but you can walk from the house to the bottom where there used to be a road. It was partially destroyed during major floods in 2010. It feels a bit like the end of the world. The advantage of the Châteaudouble Gorges is that, even in the middle of summer, they are not crowded. Ideal for having peace and quiet. The villagers can tell you how to get there. From the house, the round trip takes only a few hours. There are good places for a nice swim.

Interesting Road Itinerary

  • Châteaudouble

  • Callas

  • Claviers

  • Bargemon — Perched medieval village with picturesque streets

  • Col du Bel Homme — View of the Mediterranean

  • Brovès — Crossing of the Canjuers military camp. Closed ghost village

  • Bargème — Medieval village

  • Comps-sur-Artuby — L'Artuby Restaurant, very good typical village restaurant

  • Châteaudouble: From Comps you will cross back through the Canjuers military camp

Canjuers is the largest military camp in Europe.

Tourtour - "The Village in the Sky"

Located about 15 km from Châteaudouble, Tourtour is known as "the village in the sky" for its spectacular views. To get there, you pass through Ampus, where there are good restaurants.

The Verdon Gorges

About 40 km from Châteaudouble, the Verdon Gorges are a must-see in the region. Important to choose the right day or time of day to avoid crowds.

Activities at the Verdon Gorges

  • Route des Crêtes — Spectacular driving circuit with breathtaking viewpoints

  • Sentier Martel — Iconic hike (14 km) at the bottom of the gorges

  • Lac de Sainte-Croix — Swimming and water activities (pedal boats, canoes). Entering the gorges on the floating device of your choice is a must.

  • Point Sublime — One of the most beautiful lookouts over the gorges

Road Itinerary to the Verdon Gorges

Châteaudouble → Ampus (8 km) → Tourtour (10 km) → Aups (10 km) → direction Gorges du Verdon (25 km) → return via Comps-sur-Artuby → Châteaudouble

If You Go to Cannes

You could take the Grasse road and cross several beautiful villages including Fayence, Callian, Cabris, then cross Grasse (the city of perfumes) and go down to Cannes.

If You Go to Saint-Tropez

Eating oysters at Sénéquier is a classic, but expensive. In fact, everything is expensive in Saint-Tropez, but it's worth seeing.

Beaches

The closest is at Saint-Aygulf for a 45-minute drive, but you can also try Pampelonne or Agay, which are nicer but about 70 minutes away.

The Closest Services

  • ATM ("Tirette") and pharmacy in Figanières

  • For gas: Montferrat