The village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup takes its name from the Latin turris alta, which can be translated as "high observation point". In the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes , it is today a charming little town, typically southern, with its old streets tightly packed around the church, its artists, its stores and its secret restaurants often half buried in cellars. Every winter, it celebrates the violets, for which the village is famous. And, for its return after the pandemic, the 2022 edition of the festival promises to be a success. Especially since we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the event. See you on March 5 and 6.
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, avillage full of history and culture
Less than thirty kilometers from the points of interest in Nice, Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a charming possibility for a getaway during a stay in the Côte d'Azur city. As early as 1925, the town was a place that attracted many silent film screenings at the Café Cresp, where Christian-Jaque regularly filmed Fernandel and Jacques Prévert, who lived there in the 1940s. A few hundred meters before the entrance to the village coming from Bar-sur-Loup, there is a striking view of the facades of the old houses piled up above the Loup ravine. One could literally believe to see the painting of a naive painter. Another purely phonetic curiosity: this village was called Tourrettes-les-Vence until the Revolution. It became Tourrettes-sur-Loup to avoid any confusion with Tourrettes-Levens located in the hinterland of Nice. Tourrettes is also the city of violets which are abundantly cultivated, as well as olives and orange blossoms
Jean Cocteau, Jacques Prévert, Marcel Carné, Franck Sinatra, Francis Poulenc stayed and worked there. This village, by the magic of its particular charm, has always attracted many artists. Today, painters, sculptors, weavers, potters, ceramists and bronze founders exhibit their works in the village stores. A good opportunity to fill your suitcases with souvenirs when discovering the region.
A legendary castle
You can't miss it, as its silhouette dominates the village. In 1387, Guichard de Villeneuve received this fief from the Counts of Provence. The Villeneuve family then built the current castle in 1430 by converting the tower dating from the 12th century. With a surface area of 400 square meters on the ground, it is made up of three floors. The Villeneuve family, who became marquises, kept this fiefdom until 1789. The population then took possession of it and turned it into the town hall, a function that it still holds today. The last marquis fled but was assassinated in Ventimiglia. Abandoned in the 18th century, sold as national property, then looted, damaged and partly ruined, the castle has little left of its former splendor except for the superb Louis XIII staircase with balusters (restored at the end of the 20th century) and the belfry tower built in the 12th century
The gorges du Loup, an unmissable escapade of the French Riviera
The village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup is also a privileged starting point to enjoy the gorges du Loup, which are simply among the most beautiful natural sights of the French Riviera. The Loup is a 49 kilometer long river that rises in the Audibergue massif at the foot of Andon at an altitude of 1,200 meters and then makes its way through the Pre-Alps through a series of spectacular gorges to the Loup plain where it meets the Mediterranean Sea at Villeneuve-Loubet. It is the place called "le Pont du Loup" between Grasse and Tourrettes-sur-Loup which marks the entrance of the gorge. A road follows the gorges and allows a stroll between the cliffs. On the left bank, the spectacular Cascade de Courmes rushes through the Bès canyon of 90 m in a marmite basin. Grandiose. It is necessary to stop further on at the waterfalls of Saut de Loup. A viewpoint has been set up to admire an unforgettable natural spectacle.
In Tourettes, long live the violets!
The Victoria violet, cultivated in Tourrettes-sur-Loup since 1880, blooms from mid-October to mid-March. And to pay tribute to it, there is only one address! More than a museum, the Bastide aux Violettes is a place of memory, beautiful and preserved, as well as a lively living space. You will discover the methods of cultivation of this emblematic flower (in the ground and out of the ground), its uses (for the perfumeries of Grasse and in cooking in particular) and the craft products made such as crystallized flowers, ice creams, syrups, jams, etc. Guided tours, animations and workshops are available upon reservation. If you are here in winter, take the opportunity to admire and smell its delicate perfume. It's a beautiful place with a friendly welcome. And if you're here in winter, you might as well participate in the festivities that celebrate it!
Every year, at the end of February or the beginning of March, the Festival of Violets takes place (on March 5 and 6 in this year 2022). On the program, to celebrate the flower that made the village famous, a sort of pagan celebration of spring is organized. In the streets, there will be a parade of floats offering the young beauties of the town to the admiration of the crowds and a battle of flowers in the streets. An original and good-natured event for those who pass by. Make a note in your diaries!
Smart info
When to visit? You can of course discover this charming village all year round, but to attend the 2022 edition of the Fête des Violettes, go on March 5 and 6.
How to get there. You can get there by car, by train (via Nice or Cannes stations) or by plane (via Nice international airport).
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