Besse sur Issole

Discover the charming village of Besse-sur-Issole in the Var

Besse-sur-Issole is located in central Var, between Brignoles and Le Luc. This Provençal village, with a population of about 3,000, is well worth a stop during your vacation in Provence. Here you’ll find a natural lake, an historic old town center, and hills covered with pine and oak trees.

Start at the Town Hall square. Its fountain, dating from 1542, is one of the oldest in the department. The belfry, Saint-Dominique Castle, and the 11th-century church then take you on a journey through several centuries of Provençal life.

On the shores of Lake Besse, the water provides a rare coolness in the Var hinterland. Higher up, the Saint-Quinis Chapel watches over the Issole Valley from its elevation of 600 meters.

And then there’s Gaspard de Besse. This 18th-century bandit robbed the rich without ever shedding blood. Follow in his footsteps: the town has plenty of surprises in store for you.

Visit the village

As you wander through its narrow streets, you’ll come across a few beautifully restored historic houses and lovely fountains, including a listed Romanesque fountain in the square in front of the old town hall, next to the Clock Tower with its belfry and campanile.

The village center, with its warm and welcoming atmosphere, has a real charm. On the main street that runs through the village, a statuesque statue of Marianne stands proudly atop an old fountain. It’s here, “at the Marianne,” that everything happens—people meet, chat, and joke around.

Across from it are two bars with their terraces, where everyone gathers for morning coffee, the daily special at lunchtime, and, of course, the unmissable evening aperitif.

Lake Besse

Besse-sur-Issole is fortunate to have a 4-hectare natural lake right in the heart of the village. A few years ago, it was a small oasis of coolness where people swam in the summer, children jumped off the diving board, people fished, and picnics were held.

Walks Around the Village

Today, you can take a walk around the lake; you’ll pass by the municipal campground and its open-air café.
There’s a lovely walk from the village to Mont St. Quinis. It’s a bit of a climb, but it’s worth it: at the top, there’s a charming little clearing with the magnificent little Chapel of St. Quinis, which is touching in its simplicity and beauty.

You’ll enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the village, the Issole Valley, and the ring of wooded hills—covered with oak, pine, broom, and thyme—which stretches across nearly 20 hectares and surrounds the village’s wine-growing plain (800 hectares of vineyards).

Gaspard de Besse

Besse is also known as the birthplace of Gaspard de Besse, born in 1757; this “gentleman” thief was a precursor to the Revolution.

A defender of the oppressed, Gaspard de Besse targeted only the wealthy, without ever shedding blood. Sparing the ladies like a true “gentleman,” this heartbreaker was famous throughout Provence.