LA MOLE... IN THE HEART OF A BEAUTIFUL VALLEY

Apart from a few very singular characteristics we'll be looking at further on, LA MOLE is a very calm village set at the edge of "Dom forest" - the only noise comes from the trickle of its stream as it flows down to Giscle river ! The surrounding valley is covered with vines and reeds. The village's water comes from the reservoir at the beautiful "Barrage de La Verne" dam - the dam actually supplies the whole of the Bay of Saint-Tropez.

A Mole is particularly renowned for its international airfield, coveted by celebrities from the world over for its proximity to the Bay of Saint-Tropez. Locally, La Mole's fame is owed to Saint-Exupéry, who lived out his former years at the 11th century family castle set on the hillside; the castle is described in "The Little Prince".

In addition, legend tells that the four oxen, who were present at the coronation of Napoleon I, came from Bauduffe, one of the village's hamlets.

Characterized by its sawmill, boulangerie, auberge, pretty plane trees and newspaper stand set in the middle of the village, (where you can buy all the international press !),

La Mole is the departure point for a whole range of walks in the surrounding inland country. And while we're about it, you might like to note that the word "Maures" has nothing to do with the Muslim people from North Africa... it simply comes from the Provençal word "maouro" meaning the dark wood which covers the local hillsides.

The valley is lined with hundreds of natural reeds which literally thrive in this corner of the Var region. When Summer is over and the reeds are dry, they are packed in the form of canes or carved into reeds for wind instruments in the adjacent village of Cogolin, then shipped off all over the world. On the roadside, in the thick forest with its rich smells of humus and moss, eucalyptus and wild mushrooms, the cork oaks are regularly stripped of their bark which is used to make cork - a curious sight for visitors.

It is said that a man named Auméran from Collobrières brought back the secrets of cork-making from Spain. No bad thing for this wine-making region ! Each cork oak produces around 800 corks from its bark every ten years ; in times gone by, the Var region was home to a large number of cork makers.

A silent and majestic place…

From the dam, good walkers can reach the "Chartreuse de la Verne" Carthusian monastery at about 10 km from the village centre (also accessible by road). Don't forget to admire the herons and cormorants living by the reservoir. Surrounded by luxuriant vegetation, the monastery is a rectangular schist fortress, propped up by powerful supporting walls.

After major restoration work, one section of the monastery is now inhabited by the Sisters of Bethlehem. These nuns, who have taken a vow of silence, cannot be visited or leave the monastery. The rest of the monastery can be appreciated thanks to a signposted itinerary.

A listed monument, this magnificent site now receives between 60 and 70 000 visitors every year ! A silent and majestic place… Which should leave you speechless with admiration, at least while your visit lasts !