Seillans is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in Southeastern France.
The village is a member of the association, The Most Beautiful Villages of France.
It is a ville perché (perched hill-top village) overlooking the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel, which borders the sea between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël. It is the westernmost of a line of such towns and villages (including Montauroux, Callian, Tourrettes and Fayence).
It is part of the Roquebrune-sur-Argens canton. The commune of Seillans is the largest commune in its canton, with more than 88.66 km2. Canjuers military camp occupies half of the commune. Access is regulated and prohibited to the public.
Tourism and main attractions
The Saracen Gate
Gate enclosing part of the ramparts of the first enclosure, it was built in the 12th century. Named “Sarrasine” because of the portcullis that closed it.
Next to the gate are visible two rocks (the “Deux-Rocs”) which appeared when the medieval houses – which served as defenses for the castle – collapsed in the 1960s. The Sarrasine gate and the Deux-Rocs are classified as historical monument.
The Font d’Amont fountain
Formerly called: the “Fountain of Love”; it is one of the oldest water points in the village. This fountain bears the arms of Seillans: a white crescent on a red background crowned with fortifications. This coat of arms was copied from that of Sir Bouquier, lord of Marseille, co-lord of Seillans and knight of the order of Malta (12th century).
The Saint-Léger church
It takes its name from Léger, bishop of Autun, who suffered martyrdom in 671. It was built in the 11th century like the castle and was rebuilt in 1477; it only became the real religious center of the village in the 17th century.
It contains a marble font classified as a historic monument as objects by decree of November 5, 1912, offered by the Count of Ventimiglia, paintings from the 16th and 19th centuries, a triptych from the 14th century and two altarpieces from the 17th century. Its three bells are from 1561, 1656 and 1771.
The castle
It took its current form in the 11th century, but since protohistory the site had been inhabited. First by a Celto-Ligurian tribe which probably gave its name to Seillans, then by the Romans and finally, with Christianization, by the monks of the Saint-Victor abbey in Marseille.
Culture
Seillans has an annual pottery market and many concerts and events throughout the year, as well as the annual international Musique-Cordiale Festival, a fortnight when the church, the salle polyvalente and outdoor venues resound to a variety of high quality classical, choral and jazz music from international artists, soloists, choirs and orchestras each August, when the area is at its most popular.
Shortest distances by car
From Paris: 8 hr 55 min (889 km) via A6 and A7
From Marseille: 2 hr 4 min (156 km) via A8
From Nice: 1 hr 10 min (71.5 km) via A8
From Toulouse: 5 hr 19 min (518 km) via A61 and A9
From Monaco: 1 hr 29 min (94.4 km) via A8
From Andorra: 7 hr 6 min (608 km) via A9
From Madrid: 12 hr 17 min (1,224 km) via A-2
From Moscow: 35 hr (3,133 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 14 hr 38 min (1,397 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 25 hr (2,347 km) via E70
From Bern: 7 hr 19 min (732 km) via A7
Main information
Area: 88,66 km2
Population: 2 763
Coordinates: 43°37′59″N 6°37′59″E
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here Andorra travel guide
