I have lived on this hillside above Sanary since I was nine years old — the first time I saw the sea from here, I knew I would never want to leave. Over the decades I have explored every village in the Var hinterland, not as a hurried tourist but as a local who keeps coming back. Whenever my guests ask me which villages are worth a day trip from the villa, ten answers rush to mind at once. Here are my genuine recommendations — the ones I share around the barbecue on warm evenings.

Villa des Oliviers is perfectly positioned for this kind of exploration. Within twenty minutes by car you are already in a completely different world: sea, vineyards, garrigue, medieval stone. The Western Var has everything.

Le Castellet — the ultimate medieval hilltop village

This is always the first place I mention. Le Castellet sits at 250 metres altitude, twenty minutes from the villa, and is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France — a label it fully earns. Intact ramparts, cobbled lanes, carefully restored stone houses, artists' workshops tucked beneath the vaulted arches. The view over the Bandol vineyards and the sea beyond takes your breath away.

My advice: come on a Sunday morning for the market on the Place du Champ de Bataille, then take a coffee on the terrace under the centuries-old plane trees. Avoid August if you dislike queues — the car park fills up fast. Out of season, it is pure pleasure.

La Cadière-d'Azur — the wine-growing soul of the hinterland

Across from Le Castellet, perched on its rocky spur, La Cadière-d'Azur watches over the Bandol AOC vineyards. The historic centre — winding lanes, Renaissance townhouses, small flower-filled squares — is quintessentially Provençal. Less touristy than its neighbour, it retains a genuine authenticity.

This is where I come for olive oil and local artisan produce. Combine both villages in a half-day: they are fifteen minutes on foot from each other, and the roads between them pass through estates where tastings are often free. The Bandol AOC vineyard trail is truly worth lingering over.

Évenos — the village of black stone

Évenos is the village that surprises my guests the most. Fifteen minutes from the villa, above the Ollioules gorges, this troglodyte village built entirely from black basalt looks like something out of a fairy tale. The ruins of its 16th-century castle command an extraordinary panorama over the Gros Cerveau massif — the very mountain at whose foot the villa sits.

Évenos is small, discreet, rarely crowded. That is precisely why I love it. Allow an hour, no more, but do not miss it if you are drawn to ancient stone and wild landscapes.

Ollioules — Pagnol's Provence, ten minutes away

Ollioules is my evening walk when I want a change of scene without going far. Ten minutes from Sanary, this Provençal village has kept its colourful façades, blue shutters and the sound of fountains in the lanes. It feels like a film set from a Marcel Pagnol story — and that is no exaggeration.

The Thursday night market in summer is a festive occasion that families love. The Ollioules gorges, just above the village, offer a short and spectacular walk through limestone rocks carved by the Reppe river.

Bandol — the wine-makers' harbour

I know, Bandol is not a hilltop village. But no list of the area around Sanary can leave it out. Seven kilometres away, Bandol is our direct neighbour: a lively port, pleasant beaches, and above all a world-renowned AOC appellation. A glass of Bandol red after a day on the beach — that is the perfect balance.

If you are staying at the villa for a week, slip a Bandol evening into your plans. The waterfront with its fish restaurants, the colourful traditional boats in the harbour — it is warm and full of life.

Six-Fours-les-Plages — the fort, the chapel, the view

My children grew up walking around Fort de Six-Fours. This headland above the sea, with the Romanesque collegiate church of Saint-Pierre at its summit, offers one of the finest panoramas on the Var coast. You can see the Embiez islands, Cap Sicié, Sanary, Bandol — all at once.

Six-Fours is also home to Bonnegrâce beach and its turquoise waters. The ideal day: the fort in the morning, the beach in the afternoon.

Cassis — the calanques at a Provençal pace

Forty-five minutes from the villa, Cassis is the great outdoor excursion everyone asks for. The white-and-ochre harbour, the wild calanques, the local white wine served cool in the shade of plane trees — it is Provence at its finest.

I recommend leaving early: parking is paid and fills quickly in July and August. Take a boat from the harbour to visit the calanques of En-Vau or Port-Pin without the climb. My tips on the calanques will help you plan this day out.

La Ciotat — the birthplace of cinema between two cliffs

This is where the Lumière brothers filmed the first movie in history, L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat. La Ciotat, thirty minutes away, is a former industrial town that has reinvented itself with grace: shipyards turned into cultural spaces, a lively old town, calanques on all sides. The Eden Théâtre, said to be the world's oldest cinema still in operation [À VÉRIFIER PAR FRANÇOIS], is well worth a visit.

Aix-en-Provence — the perfect mid-week escape

For a more cultural day, Aix-en-Provence is an hour's drive away. The Cours Mirabeau, the morning markets, the 17th-century mansions of the Mazarin quarter, the café terraces — Aix has an elegance that does you good. It is our great provincial city, the one we love to return to two or three times a year.

Combine it with a morning walk on the Montagne Sainte-Victoire and a stroll through the city in the afternoon. Plan to leave before 6 pm to avoid traffic on the A51.

The Sainte-Baume massif — Provence's secret forest

Few of my guests have heard of la Sainte-Baume before they arrive. Yet this limestone massif, reaching over 1,150 metres, hides a thousand-year-old beech forest — a climatic anomaly in the middle of the Mediterranean. The sacred grotto of Mary Magdalene, the hiking trails, the cool air in the height of summer — it is a day of complete renewal.

Forty minutes from the villa, this is the nature outing I recommend to families with older children or couples who want a day away from the beach.

How to organise your week from the villa

From Villa des Oliviers, all these day trips are within easy reach, without rushing. My favourite rhythm: alternate one beach day with one discovery day. Early mornings for the sites — golden light, fewer crowds — then back to the villa for a siesta and the pool in the afternoon.

The villa is rented by the week, with direct booking and no platform commission. It is a genuinely authentic character property — stone walls, centuries-old olive trees, infinity pool — and can accommodate up to 14 guests. It is the ideal base from which to explore the entire Western Var.

Book your week directly and I will prepare my best personalised recommendations for your season.

FAQ — Villages and day trips from Sanary in practice

What is the most beautiful hilltop village near Sanary-sur-Mer?

Le Castellet is unquestionably the most spectacular: listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France, perched at 250m altitude, just 20 minutes from the villa. La Cadière-d'Azur and Évenos are excellent, less-frequented complements.

Which villages can you visit on a day trip from Sanary?

The entire Western Var is accessible as a day trip: Castellet, Cadière, Évenos and Ollioules in under 20 minutes; Cassis, La Ciotat and Bandol in under 45 minutes; Aix-en-Provence and Sainte-Baume in under an hour.

Does Villa des Oliviers rent by the week?

Yes, Villa des Oliviers is available exclusively for weekly holiday rentals, booked directly on this site with no platform commission. An authentic character villa sleeping up to 14, perfect for exploring the whole region.

Do you need a car to visit these villages?

Yes, a car is essential. Most hilltop villages are not served by public transport from Sanary. Plan to have a vehicle for your stay — the roads through the hinterland are narrow but magnificent.