Le Bar-sur-Loup

Visit Le Bar-sur-Loup, Provence

In a site occupied since at least 3000 years ago Le Bar-sur-Loup is a perched village on a hill to the west of the Alpes-Maritimes department of Provence, set in the hills inland from the Cote d'Azur north of Frejus and west of Grasse, and above the valley of the Loup river.

Exploring Bar-sur-Loup

The medieval village of Le Bar-sur-Loup is quite small, pedestrianised, and a very attractive village to explore, with picturesque stone houses along narrow streets and above vaulted passageways, and even traces of ancient troglodyte dwellings in places.

There was a castle here from the 10th century onwards around which the village originally developed, although the current castle is a 16th century replacement (in private ownership). The statue in front of the castle is of an 18th century admiral who was born in the castle and helped America at the battle of Yorktown during the American War of Independence.

As you explore Bar-sur-Loup you will also see parts of the original town ramparts, witness to its strategic importance during the early middle ages.

At the top of the village is the 14th century Church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur, predominantly roman in style, which features an ornate carved door and an impressive altarpiece painted by Bréa (16th century), along with some 17th century statues and a painting called the 'Danse Macabre' (which tells the story of a ball given by the Count of Bar at which all the invited guests died).

There are also some small chapels in and near the village.

Attractions in the region

There is a path up the Sarrée plateau behind the village from where you can look down on the village rooftops and views stretching far into the distance.

Nearby the main attraction is the Gorges du Loup, with the fast moving river surrounded by cliffs and steep hills sometimes giving rise to waterfalls along the way. From Le Pont du Loup head north towards Bramafan, then south along the Gourdon road as far as Chateauneuf where you can rejoin the road to le Bar-sur-Loup. Combined perhaps with a side-trip to Tourrettes-sur-Loup this trip makes for a a very pleasant and scenic day out.

The nearby destinations of Gourdon and Grasse provide an interesting contrast with each other - Gourdon is a tiny village (a classified 'most beautiful village in France') in a remarkable clifftop location, while Grasse is a bustling and noisy Provencal town. Visits to both are highly recommended. (Note, although Gourdon appears very close to Bar-sur-Loup on a map the deep valley between them makes the journey by car substantially longer).

See Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Alpes-Maritimes (the region and department for Le Bar-sur-Loup) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Le Bar-sur-Loup: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 1*;

Suggested places to visit near Le Bar-sur-Loup, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Grasse 7km; Vence 10km; Saint-Paul-de-Vence 11km; Mougins 11km; Valmasque Parc 12km; Biot 12km; Cagnes-sur-Mer 13km; Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne 17km; Cannes 17km; Antibes 17km; Juan-les-Pins 17km;

Le Bar-sur-Loup tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin de la Villa Fort de France - remarkable garden (7km) : Le Vallon du Brec - remarkable garden (11km) : Baou de Saint-Jeannet - site of natural beauty (13km) : Grottes de Saint-Cezaire - site of natural beauty (15km) : Jardin botanique de la villa Thuret - remarkable garden (17km) : Abbaye de Lerins (Cannes) - religious monument (17km) : Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (20km) : Jardin botanique - remarkable garden (22km) :

See more places and a map at places near Le Bar-sur-Loup