Salernes, commune in Var, France
Salernes is a small commune in the Var region of Provence, nestled in a valley beside the Bresque river with a peaceful, green setting. Narrow streets wind through the town around old buildings, open squares, and historic fountains, while surrounding forests and hills frame the landscape.
The area of Salernes was settled as a Roman site in ancient times, with the ceramic crafts tradition spanning thousands of years. Medieval castle ruins sit above the town, their towers lost to a 17th-century fire, but the remains still speak to the region's long history of human settlement.
The name Salernes traces back to an ancient Roman settlement in this location. The ceramic craftsmanship tradition remains central to daily life, with pottery workshops and small shops lining the narrow streets where visitors can watch artisans create the famous red tomette tiles that have been made here for centuries.
The town is easy to explore on foot, with marked walking trails in the surrounding area that pass through forests and along the river. Local markets operate on Wednesday and Sunday, where visitors can buy fresh produce and handmade goods directly from farmers and artisans.
The Terra Rossa ceramic museum is housed in a restored former factory and displays ceramic artifacts some thousands of years old. A special feature is seeing the old kilns that are still used today to produce the traditional tomette tiles that have made the town famous.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
