Les Arcs, commune in Var, France
Les Arcs is a small town in southeastern France with a medieval old quarter perched on a hillside, surrounded by ancient walls and featuring a 13th-century tower called the donjon. The modern center spreads below along the Argens river, with forests of the Maures massif rising on the horizon.
Human settlement here dates back to the Bronze Age, with archaeological finds of ancient huts and tools. In the Middle Ages, an abbey was founded in 1038, followed by construction of a castle and Romanesque church under the Villeneuve family, whose rule beginning in 1201 shaped the town for centuries.
The name likely comes from a bridge with arches that once crossed the river. Walking through the streets today, you see how people organize their community around local markets, craftwork, and small shops that continue traditions passed down through generations.
The town is accessible by train at Arcs-Draguignan station with connections to Paris, Marseille, and Nice, or by car with nearby highways. Airports in Toulon and Nice are the closest options for air travel.
The Sainte-Roseline chapel holds a 1975 mosaic by Marc Chagall and the remarkably preserved remains of a local saint, drawing pilgrims to this day. The town celebrates this heritage with torchlit night tours and the Festes du Castrum festival, where history enthusiasts recreate medieval life.
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