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Sunshine and pink sandstone in a Provençal wine town
Vidauban, in the Var department of Provence, is an old wine-making town whose origins date back to mediaeval times. Overlooked by the Chapel of St Brigitte, which stands on an old volcano above the town, Vidauban is a delightful place of sunshine and pink sandstone.
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Peaceful and lively
With a healthy population figure of over 9,000, Vidauban manages to be both peaceful and lively. The tranquillity stems from its location, in idyllic Provence, and its innate sense of history. The vibrancy, on the other hand, is attributable to the vigour and enthusiasm of the inhabitants… even those who are well into their nineties!
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A town with two aspects
Vidauban has two very different aspects, giving a refreshing variety to the views from the town. If you are a lover of Mediterranean landscapes, with the tall and distinctive ‘parasol’ pine trees, fragrant yellow broom and sandy earth, then choose a house whose windows look to the south, where all this and more is laid out before you. If, on the other hand, you like to see vast forests of oaks, with Alep pines and cliffs dropping dramatically to the rivers in the gorges, then choose views to the north. All the variety of Provence is here, and standing in the town for the first time you are left in no doubt that this is one of the finest spots in France.
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A Sunday market
The town has its main market on Sunday, which is excellent because most of the normal shops close on Sundays in France, so a Sunday market is not only a pleasurable way of spending a day, but also a practical resource.
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More shopping
Shopping in Vidauban, on all the other days of the week, is also a pleasure. The town has an excellent selection of shops, with the usual butcher, baker, fishmonger and greengrocer. There is also, unusually for a rural town, a shop selling such high fashion quality ladies clothes and shoes that it would not seem out of place in Paris!
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Wining and dining in Vidauban
Vidauban is fortunate in that it has a number of good restaurants and cafés, including a pizzeria and a Michelin guide recommended restaurant. At the time of writing, the restaurant is presided over by the appropriately named M Alain Beouf! La Concorde is found in the main square of the town, and is definitely worth a try. Don’t forget to book early though; it’s very popular, especially in season.
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Out and about
Vidauban, with its fabulous location in southern Provence, offers an amazing variety of places to go and things to do. Sports fans will find endless possibilities open to them, with the exciting water sports on offer in the rivers of the Gorges du Verdon, and also on the nearby lake, where you sail and windsurf over the rooftops of the drowned village of Les Salles. Horse-riding is available locally, and walkers and cyclists will find themselves spoiled for choice. Don’t forget, too, that St Tropez is only 50 kilometres away!
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How to get there
Reaching Vidauban by air is relatively easy and inexpensive thanks to the budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet, both of whom offer direct flights from the UK to nearby airports. Ryanair fly to Marseille and Toulon, while easyJet have flights to Nice and Marseille. British Airways, Air France, flybe, bmi, bmibaby, Jet2 and Aer Lingus also have routes to the area. TGV travel is another excellent and fast way to travel, and there is a TGV station at Marseille. It takes only six and a half hours to reach Marseille from London, using a combination of Eurostar and a TGV.
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Property prices and availability in and around Vidauban
Property all over Provence is expensive, and the Var more so than most, as the desirability of the area is very high. The property here really holds its value though, and there is a good potential for a rental income too, if you are buying the property as a second home and don’t want to live in it all year round. There are many excellent properties here, of all sorts and types, and if you have the money then your only difficulty is choosing between the luxury villas or glorious old farmhouses for which the region is famed! Vidauban also offers village houses of traditional design. Once you find your property, however, don’t hang around, as the market here can move very fast and good properties are snapped up quickly.
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