Seillans
Encyclopedia
Seillans is a commune
in the Var
department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
region
in southeastern France
.
It is a ville perché (perched hill-top village) overlooking the plain between the southern Alps
and the Esterel
, which borders the sea between Cannes
and Saint-Raphaël
. It has been recognized as one of the prettiest villages of France
.
Seillans has a steeply-inclined medieval centre, accessible only on foot, and a number of small squares and old buildings. It is the western-most of a line of such towns and villages (including Montauroux
, Callian
, Tourrettes
and Fayence
) that face south and attract tourists and each offer a variety of cultural pursuits. They are most striking when viewed from the plain below. Other local attractions include the nearby Lac St. Cassien.
Seillans is also a destination for holiday-makers, retirees and second-home owners from other parts of France and northern Europe, lured by the charming houses and scenery combined with the sunny climate and proximity to the Mediterranean
and Nice International Airport. Seillans features a castle and C13 church at its summit. Nearby are rustic chapels, vineyards, forests and olive groves.
Seillans has an annual Pottery Market and many concerts and occasional events throughout the year, as well as the annual international Musique-Cordiale
Festival, a fortnight when the church, the salle polyvalente and outdoor venues resound to a variety of high quality classical, choral and jazz music from international artists, soloists, choirs and orchestras each August, when the area is at its most popular.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Var
Var (département)
The Var is a French department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in Provence, in southeast France. It takes its name from the river Var, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but the boundary was moved in 1860...
department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is a ville perché (perched hill-top village) overlooking the plain between the southern Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and the Esterel
Esterel massif
The Esterel Massif is a coastal mountain range in the departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes in Provence, south-east France....
, which borders the sea between Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
and Saint-Raphaël
Saint-Raphaël, Var
Saint-Raphaël is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Immediately to the west of Saint-Raphaël lies another, older, town called Fréjus, and together they form an urban agglomeration known as Fréjus Saint-Raphaël...
. It has been recognized as one of the prettiest villages of France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France is an independent association, created in 1982, which aims to promote assets of small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage...
.
Seillans has a steeply-inclined medieval centre, accessible only on foot, and a number of small squares and old buildings. It is the western-most of a line of such towns and villages (including Montauroux
Montauroux
Montauroux is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Its neighbor town is the picturesque Callian which can be seen across a small valley.-Geography:...
, Callian
Callian, Var
Callian is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Var department*-References:*...
, Tourrettes
Tourrettes, Var
Tourrettes is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Tourrettes is one of a series of "perched villages" overlooking the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel massif, which borders the sea between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël....
and Fayence
Fayence
Fayence is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Fayence is one of a series of "perched villages" overlooking the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel massif, which borders the sea between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël. Fayence is a...
) that face south and attract tourists and each offer a variety of cultural pursuits. They are most striking when viewed from the plain below. Other local attractions include the nearby Lac St. Cassien.
Seillans is also a destination for holiday-makers, retirees and second-home owners from other parts of France and northern Europe, lured by the charming houses and scenery combined with the sunny climate and proximity to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and Nice International Airport. Seillans features a castle and C13 church at its summit. Nearby are rustic chapels, vineyards, forests and olive groves.
Seillans has an annual Pottery Market and many concerts and occasional events throughout the year, as well as the annual international Musique-Cordiale
Musique-Cordiale
The Musique-Cordiale Festival Musiques en Liberté is the name for an international festival of music and song and for a series of other musical events in France and Britain. It grew from a dream of making music and encouraging musical appreciation at the highest level in the most conducive...
Festival, a fortnight when the church, the salle polyvalente and outdoor venues resound to a variety of high quality classical, choral and jazz music from international artists, soloists, choirs and orchestras each August, when the area is at its most popular.