Hello 👋!
I had to write an article about the pretty village of Tourrettes sur Loup, where we’ve been living for over three years.
I’ll try to give you my general impression, my favorites ❤️ and my advice as a newcomer.
As with the article on Vence, I’ll be updating this one as often as possible, so that it can evolve in line with my discoveries and the latest news on the town.
As always, your comments and recommendations are most welcome 😀 !
Tourrettes sur Loup, Vence’s little neighbor
Tourrettes sur Loup is a village of 4,100 inhabitants located in the hills above Nice, to the west of Vence. You’ll need about 10 minutes by car between the two towns, if we take the village centers as our reference points.
We live at the entrance to Tourrettes (or the exit from Vence 🤪) and feel as much a part of Tourrettes as we do of Vence. It has to be said that when you live in Tourrettes sur loup, it’s hard not to spend time in Vence, if only to get to Nice or the coast.
By the way, did you know that Tourrettes was called Tourrettes-lès-Vence until 1894 🤓?
Although neighbors, Tourrettes sur Loup and Vence remain two very different towns, each with its own assets and points of attraction. For our daily enjoyment!
Please note: Unlike Vence, Tourrettes sur Loup is not part of the Nice metropolitan area. The village is administratively attached to the arrondissement of Grasse, and is part of the Communauté d’Agglomérations Sophia Antipolis (CASA).
A magnificent hilltop village overlooking the Côte d’Azur
All year round, Tourrettes sur Loup offers its inhabitants, as well as tourists and visitors passing through, a concentrate of authenticity and beauty (in all objectivity 😜).
Perched on a rocky outcrop, the village has perfectly preserved its historic center.
So much so that the spectacle is grandiose when you approach Tourrettes and the panorama offers a view of the perched village. But also when you pass through one of the gates of the fortified town and wander through its secret little streets.
Personally, I can’t get enough of it 😌.
Like a precious jewel, I like to enjoy Tourrettes’ beauty by peering into new nooks and crannies or rediscovering others.
I think it’s a village to be savored, don’t you 😀?
A village, three Cités and a hamlet
To better understand the characteristics of the village, you will find below the 3 Cités that define Tourrettes sur Loup :
–The medieval Cité 🏰, dating from the 15th century, fortified around the Château, which today houses the town hall.
–The Cité of Arts 🎨 for its many workshops and craft stores. This name is also the legacy of the encounters and passages of a multitude of artists of all kinds after the 40s.
–The Cité of Violets 💜. Victoria – the Tourrettes sur Loup violet – is still grown here and remains the town’s symbol. The Violet Festival is held here every year in March!
Finally, you’ll note that the pretty hamlet of Pont du Loup, at the gateway to the Gorges du Loup, is now administratively divided between Gourdon and Tourrettes sur Loup.
Main infrastructures
Take a look at the town’s website for all the latest information.
Although a small village, Tourrettes sur Loup boasts a number of convenient facilities for its residents.
In summary, you’ll find :
-The Town Hall 🏫, located in the historic Castle.
-Schools 🎓: Bagaria nursery school, Jean Ordan primary school and the new Pont du Loup intercommunal school.
-Early childhood 🐣: La Farandole daycare center.
-Health 🩺 : Three general practitioners and several specialists are present in Tourrettes sur Loup. The village pharmacy is located at 3, route de Grasse.
-Sport 🎾: Tennis, Football, Horse riding… find all the associations and facilities on the city website.
-Culture 🎭: To my knowledge, there is a Cultural Space - the Espace Paul Ceuzin - as well as two museums: the Espace Museal in the city's Château-Mairie and the 'La Bastide aux Violettes' museum.
-The Tourist Office 😎 is located at 2 Place de la Libération.
-Food shops 🛒: In addition to the shops present (bakeries, fruit and vegetable sellers, butchers, etc.), a mini Vival supermarket and a grocery store -Chez Papouth- are located there.
-Security 🚨: The police station is located at 2 route de Vence.
Please note: A friendly Provençal market 🌻 takes place every Wednesday morning on the Place de la Libération.
My favorites
Restaurants, shops, shopping…check out the article dedicated to our favorite places and habits in Tourrettes sur Loup!
Keep up to date with city news
The town newsletter
Visit the Tourrettes sur Loup official website and subscribe to the newsletter to receive official information from the town (the form is at the bottom of the home page).
Facebook communities
If you’re new to the area, I encourage you to follow the Facebook communities dedicated to the people of Tourrettes sur Loup. They’ll be useful not only for receiving information, but also for asking questions, sharing anecdotes…
The main communities:
–Tourrettes-sur-Loup et Vous🏫☀️
And you, what are your favorite places in Tourrettes sur Loup ? Any advice for newcomers ?
See you soon !
Julie
