Cotignac
Classified among The Most Beautiful Villages of France, Cotignac is also the go-to village from Les Vaches for restaurants, bars and cafés. Shaded by ancient plane trees, Cotignac’s main square – the Cours Gambetta – has a range of terraced establishments and is a perfect place to enjoy the relaxed rhythms of Provencal, village life. The town hosts morning and evening markets (see Markets section below), and among other summertime events, a popular, outdoor cinema festival. See below for significant historic sights of the village.
Restaurants & Bars, some recommendations:
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Le Bistro Cotignac (lebistrotcotignac.fr): Cours Gambetta. The quality here is very good and there is space for large parties both indoors and out, though during high season it is recommended to reserve in advance.
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Le Bistrot de Lou Calen: (www.loucalen.com/bar_restauration/le-bistrot) Beautiful indoor and outdoor dining spaces. Very good dining. Main entrance through the Lou Calen bookstore / front desk.
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Le Table de Marie Alice: Cours Gambetta. Good, quality dining. For indoor seating during the high season, call in advance for the main dining room, as it is to be preferred to the mezzanine.
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Le Temps de Pose: Place de Marie, due north of Cours Gambetta. This outdoor restaurant provides just a few tables, so is suitable only for small parties. A tranquil and pretty space to dine.
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Jardin Secret (www.loucalen.com/bar_restauration/jardin-secret): Awarded a Michelin green star in 2023, this is the restaurant of the Lou Calen hotel. It is located in a secret garden as might come as no surprise. Entry is via the hotel. Reservations will likely be required.
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Le Tuf (latufcraftbeer.com): Located just south of Cours Gambetta. This bar specializes in locally brewed beer. It has a polished ground floor space, a gritty, graffiti lounge upstairs, and a charming set of outdoor garden terraces.
Historical Sights
The Citadel
Constructed during the Dark Ages, the citadel is at first glance hardly visible among the high cliffs which surmount Cotignac. Much like a cameleon, initially only the eye of the citadel is visible amongst the stone. As the details emerge, one is astounded at humankind's ingenuity.
Open to the public, from its parapets one has a wonderful view over the tiled roofs of the medieval village and to the Massif des Maures, 30km to the south as the crow flies. It was in the latter that the Saracens built their strongholds during the Dark Ages and from which they raided inland, harvesting slaves amongst the locals.
Sanctuaire Notre Dame des Graces
Cotignac is an important village for many of the Catholic faith. It is exclusively here, as accepted by the Church, that all members of the Holy Family have made private apparition to the faithful.
The first such apparition was that of the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus on her hip, in 1519. Having appeared to a young man gathering wood in the forest, she requested that the villagers build her a chapel in which those in need might pray for her grace and favor.
The most famous such prayers were the novenas of 1637 on behalf of the Queen of France, who had failed to produced a living heir after 23 years of marriage. Christened by his parents Louis Dieudonné (Louis the God-given), the future Louis XIV was born nine months thereafter. Indeed, the sanctuary's statue of the Virgin Mary and Child received in thankfulness the humble devotions of Louis XIV and his mother, Anne of Austria, in 1660.
Sanctuaire Saint Joseph du Bessillon
This church is built at the location of the second private apparition by a member of the Holy Family to a villager. Here it was Joseph, father to Jesus, who appeared to a young shepherd suffering of thirst in the forest. Joseph bade the young man lift a large boulder to reveal a hidden spring. The young man, not recognizing the old man for Saint Joseph, nevertheless did as he was told. To the young man's surprise the boulder displaced easily and a spring was indeed liberated. Today the waters of the spring are sought by pilgrims for their powers of healing.
Tourist Info: www.la-provence-verte.net/ot_cotignac