Montauroux, commune in Var, France
Montauroux is a small commune perched on a hilltop in the Var region of Provence, surrounded by lush green woodland. Its layout features winding narrow streets connecting modest stone houses, small squares with fountains, and the Church of Saint-Barthelemy at its highest point, along with the Chapel of Saint-Barthelemy built in the 17th century nearby.
The village was founded in the 11th century and developed as a fortified settlement on its hilltop location. The Church of Saint-Barthelemy dates to the 12th century and underwent modifications in the 17th and 18th centuries, while the Chapel of Saint-Barthelemy was built around 1630 by the White Penitents brotherhood and later became associated with designer Christian Dior, who bequeathed it to the town.
The village's name reflects its hilltop setting, with "Mont" referring to the mountain and "auroux" suggesting its sun-facing position. Narrow streets lined with colorful houses and small fountains display typical Provencal architecture, where locals and visitors move at a slow pace through shaded passages and sit in quiet squares.
The village is easily explored on foot, with all main attractions such as the church, chapel, and main square connected by narrow lanes that wind from top to bottom. The viewpoint square offers orientation and information boards, while a traditional washhouse at the foot of the village marks an additional historic stop along the way.
Fashion designer Christian Dior owned a summer residence here and donated the Chapel of Saint-Barthelemy to the village, creating an unexpected link between high fashion and a small Provencal commune. Dior was fascinated by the Mediterranean herbs and plants of the area and designed his nearby Château de la Colle Noire with extensive fragrant gardens that reflected his passion for perfume botanicals.
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