The Pays de Fayence consists of 9 charming high-altitude villages: Fayence, Tourrettes, Montauroux, Tanneron, Mons, Callian, Seillans, Bagnols-en-Forêt and Saint-Paul-en-Forêt.
A true Provençal 'Tressure' not far from the French Côte d'Azur, the Pays de Fayence offers a wide range of activities thanks to its beautiful landscapes, between mountains, hills, lakes and plains. One of these lakes, in the heart of the beautiful ' Massif de Esterel', is the lake of Saint-Cassien, with atmospheric little creeks where you can swim, pedal boats or enjoy yourself in one of the many restaurants and bistros. Its size also makes it an ideal lake for windsurfers. The original function of this lake is the production of electricity (the dam is 210m long and 66m high), the supply of water to the eastern Var and to several towns in the Alpes Maritimes but also storage for irrigation reserves.
In the Pays de Fayence, the town of Fayance is the largest of these villages. A very attractive village and a pleasure to explore with a wide choice of cafés and restaurants. Walking through the streets of Fayence, a visit to the old traditional stone washing place (Place Gabriel Peri, at the bottom of the old town) and an old communal bread oven (dating back to the 16th century, follow the signs to the 'Four du Mitan') is well worthwhile. The ornate carvings in the stone lintels above the doorways and the numerous traditional Provençal fountains are beautiful as is the 14th-century entrance through the original city walls (the Saracen Gate).
Among religious sights, the church of Saint Jean Baptiste (18th century), or the chapel of Notre Dame des Cypres, the oldest Christian church in the area in the centre of this original medieval village are highly recommended.
At the top of the hill behind Fayence, just beyond the remaining fragments of the castle that once stood here, stands the bell tower, surrounded by a viewing platform that offers very far-reaching and impressive views, in almost all directions. Actually, all the above-mentioned traditional Provençal villages in this region are a delight to discover as well as the village of Saint-Paul-en-Forêt, which became an independent municipality when it separated from Fayence in 1824. Numerous walks through the pine forests, along Lake Riouviard, and even a little further afield, in the canyons of the Verdon, make your visit to this area well worthwhile.