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This picturesque village is located in the deep forested valley of the Naj river, north of Toulon. Méounes-lès-Montrieux has a Romanesque-Gothic church with a tall bell tower, numerous old fountains, a canal-lavoir system and some nice hilll walks.
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Nearby: |
Belgentier 6 km |
Brignoles 22 km |
Forcalqueiret 12 km |
Garéoult 9 km |
Hyères 30 km |
Mazaugues 13 km |
Neoules 6 km |
Roquebrussanne 7 km |
Sainte Anastasie-sur-Issole 18 km |
Signes 9 km |
Toulon 28 km |
Tourves 19 km |
Hotels near Méounes-lès-Montrieux: |
9 km Signes |
19 km Tourves |
22 km Brignoles |
28 km Toulon |
30 km Hyeres |
The roads into town are lined with platane trees on both the south (Route de Toulon) and the north (Route de Brignoles), giving a pretty and shady (except wintertime) first impression.
The 16th-century Romanesqe-Gothic parish church in the center was enlarged in the 17th century. Its tall, square bell tower is topped with an elegant 6-column dome. Inside the church, in addition to the marble angels by Duparc are some Gallo-Roman tombstones.
A group of shops is clustered just behind the church, opposite a parking area in front of the town hall. The bakery is picturesque, and has great bread. The "grocerie store" beside has fresh vegetables and fruit.
Small streets along the east side of the village are nice for wandering and discovering, especially for the old fountains. You can continue up past nice squares up the hill to the Saint Michel chapel [Photo-10], and just a few minutes beyond that to the "Colline de la Vierge" at the top, with a statue of the Virgin and a great view of the forested hills and the village below [Photo-11].
The small, swift Naj river flows through the village, some times underground. It's channeled in front of the Hotel de Ville beneath stone bridges and tunnels, and goes down to a complex of little canals and falling water to a lavoir complex a few blocks south [Photo-13].
Fountains
Méounes-lès-Montrieux has 10 old stone fountains. Many of them are small, sitting along the village streets, or in nice locations, such as the one on the main Route de Toulon on the south side [Photo-07].
The large fountain on the main square in front of the church [Photo-01] looks rather dreary when it's not on. Even the much prettier fountain by the Hotel de Ville [Photo-06] looks ordinary when off, at least in the winter time.
The Four Seasons fountain at the Place des Anciennes Ecoles [Photo-04] is more elaborate, with 4 marble faces, and the House of Heads (maison des têtes) as a backdrop.
Just up the street on the Grand'Rue is the Marianne fountain [Photo-05], sculpted by Emile Aldebert to represent France.
Nearby
Montrieux Chartreuse
The 12th-century Chartreuse de Montrieux is located in the hills 2.5 km south of the village, where a few monks still reside.
This is also the site of the earlier, ruined village of Montrieux-le-Jeune.
Montrieux-le-Vieux
The ruins of an abandoned village are located on the south bank of the Gapeau river, 2.5 km southwest of Méounes-lès-Montrieux.
Grotte des Rampins
This large grotto is located in the hills 2 km southeast of the village, just a short walk in from the D564.
History
Name
First record, 965 Melna or 1060 Molna, possibly from the Celtic for montagne (mountain), or alternately for miel (attributing to the quality of the local honey)
Gallo-Roman:
There were at least eight Gallo-Roman villas in the area, including at St-Lazare (1 km south) and Cros de l'Oumé.
One item discovered was a metre-high pagan alter stone engraved "IOVI" for Jupiter, now on display in the
Hotel de Ville (town hall).
There are many Gallo-Roman remains around Méounes-lès-Montrieux, at St-Lazare (1 km south) and Cros de l'Oumé. The village church has a stone from a Gallo-Roman temple.
Office de Tourisme
Web: www.meounes.com/
Transportation Méounes-lès-Montrieux
Bus
Department 83, Var Buses
See Beyond's Bus Schedules Page 16: Var Department for downloading Var bus-lines map [Plan du Reseau] and bus-line schedules [Horaires] (link for PDF files).
Méounes-lès-Montrieux is served by theses VAR buses:
- 4402: Toulon, La Valette-du-Var, La Garde, La Farlédé, Solliès-Pont, Belgentier, Méounes-lès-Montrieux, La Roquebrussanne, Néoules, Garéoult, Tourves, Saint Maximin.
- 4408: Brignoles, Forcalqueiret, Garéoult, Rocbaron, Néoules, Méounes-lès-Montrieux, La Roquebrussanne.
Hiking
Maps:
IGN (1/25,000) #3345 OT "Signes, Tourves, Massif Sainte-Baume"
Méounes-lès-Montrieux is surrounded by forested hills and valleys. A set of hiking trails called Excursionnistes Toulonnais and marked on the IGN map as ETnn (ET4, ET17, etc.) include the area around Méounes-lès-Montrieux.
The ET trails to the south and the southeast include loop hikes out past the Montrieux Chartreuse and Belgentier, and hook up with the GR9 (Grande Randonnée) around Belgentier.
To the north and northwest the ET trails go to La Roquebrussanne and Mazaugues, and connects with the GR99 that passes through Signes.
Dining
Méounes-lès-Montrieux has suitable dining here year-round.
Bar Central
This very plain looking (to say the least) café-restaurant has a nice dining room in the front with lots of windows. Open in the winter.
Location:
On the corner of the main street, opposite the church square.
Open: All year
Cantine des Soleîades
A small restaurant at the north edge of town, open all year. We had a good plat de jour here (Feb 2010).
Location:
49 Route de Brignoles (north edge of Méounes)
Open: All year
Tel: 0620 119 500, or 0494 945 423
Hostellerie de la Poêl d'Or
Location:
41 Route de Toulon
Open: All year
Closed: Mon, Tue
Tel: 0494 489 197
Seemed nice (Feb 2010) but credit/bank cards not accepted
Lodging - Hotels
Hotels in Towns Nearby to Méounes-lès-Montrieux
• 9 km — Signes hotels
• 19 km — Tourves hotels
• 22 km — Brignoles hotels
• 28 km — Toulon hotels
• 30 km — Hyeres hotels
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Photo gallery of 14 photos for Méounes-lès-Montrieux