Cotignac is a village in the Var listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, 25 km and 35 minutes from Tourtour. It backs onto a tufa rock about 80 m high and 400 m long, dotted with caves and crowned by two towers, the remains of a feudal castle. Its two shrines, Notre-Dame-de-Grâces (1519) and Saint-Joseph du Bessillon (1660), have drawn pilgrims for centuries: Louis XIV came in 1660 with his mother, Anne of Austria. Cours Gambetta and its listed fountains complete the visit.
Key facts
- From Tourtour: 25 km, about 35 minutes.
- The rock: about 80 m high, 400 m long, caves and two towers.
- Shrines: Notre-Dame-de-Grâces (1519) and Saint-Joseph du Bessillon (1660).
- Labels: Most Beautiful Villages of France, Villages de caractère du Var.
- Not to be confused with cotignac, the quince paste from Orléans.
Cotignac at a glance
| Landmark | Value |
|---|---|
| From Tourtour | 25 km, about 35 min |
| Population | 2,197 residents (2023) |
| Altitude | 230 m |
| Labels | Most Beautiful Villages of France, Villages de caractère du Var |
| The rock | about 80 m high, 400 m long |
A useful note: some searches for “cotignac” are about cotignac d’Orléans, a quince paste. The Var village has nothing to do with this sweet, even though its main festival is the quince festival.
The rock
The village backs onto a tufa cliff about 80 m high and 400 m long. It is pitted with many caves, decorated with large stalactites. On top, two square towers are the remains of a feudal castle.
The two shrines
- Notre-Dame-de-Grâces, on Mont Verdaille, founded after an apparition reported on 10 and 11 August 1519. In 1660, Louis XIV made a pilgrimage there with his mother, Anne of Austria.
- Saint-Joseph du Bessillon, a chapel built in 1660 after Saint Joseph appeared to a shepherd on 7 June 1660.
Anne of Austria also passed through Tourtour: Place des Ormeaux owes its name to the elms planted during her visit in 1638. See things to do in Tourtour.
The village
Cours Gambetta is the heart of Cotignac. It has a wash house on the inventory of historic monuments, and the listed Four Seasons fountains. The village also lives from its vineyards, with the Vignerons de Cotignac cooperative winery.
Festivals
The quince festival is the main event. In summer, festivities are held around 10, 11 and 15 August. Exact dates are published every year by the town hall.
Combining the visit
Cotignac is the furthest of Tourtour’s neighbouring villages (35 minutes). It combines with Villecroze and Aups for a day’s loop of Haut-Var villages.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cotignac famous for?
For its troglodyte rock, about 80 m high, overlooking the village, and for its two shrines, Notre-Dame-de-Grâces and Saint-Joseph du Bessillon, linked to apparitions in 1519 and 1660.
Where is Cotignac?
In the Var, 25 km and about 35 minutes by road south-west of Tourtour.
Did Louis XIV visit Cotignac?
Yes. In 1660, Louis XIV made a pilgrimage to Notre-Dame-de-Grâces with his mother, Anne of Austria.
What festivals are held in Cotignac?
The quince festival is the village's main event. In summer, festivities take place around 10, 11 and 15 August. Exact dates are published by the town hall.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Opening times and dates change: confirm before you travel.
- Wikipedia (French), Cotignac (rock, shrines, labels, festivals), accessed 7 November 2026
- Travel times: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap, from the centre of Tourtour, accessed 7 November 2026
