Entrecastaux

Entrecastaux, situated to the west of Draguignan (31km/19mi via Salernes, or about 20km/12mi from Le Thoronet) has an impressive castle with severe architecture; this dates essentially from the 17th C. and was the seat of the Comte de Grignan, the stepson of Madame de Sévigné. The castle, which is open to the public, was renovated after the Thirty Years War and contains furniture and objets d'art from many countries. The spacious park was laid out by Le Nôtre who was also responsible for the park of Versailles. Entrecastaux itself, a medieval, typical Provençal village, with narrow streets and house facades, is a protected monument. Worth seeing are the fortified church of St-Sauveur, the 17th C. washing place and Notre Dame de l'Aube which dates from the 12th C.