Welcome to Tourrettes-sur-Loup, one of the most picturesque hilltop villages on Cote d’Azur. It’s a captivating place with typical medieval architecture, charming winding streets, hidden corners, small art galleries, and stunning views. Unfortunately, it looks like Tourrettes is often overlooked and quite hard to find in French Riviera travel guides… And it’s a shame as it’s a delightful place, and as beautiful as the nearby popular Saint-Paul-de-Vence or Gourdon. Here are amazing things to do in Tourrettes-sur-Loup that will make your visit unforgettable.
Travel tip. You can easily visit Tourrettes and nearby Saint Paul de Vence or Gourdon on the same day.
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Our Tourrettes-sur-Loup Travel Video
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, France FAQ
Tourrettes is located inland in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. It sits on a hill at an altitude of 524m a.s.l, only about 15km from the Mediterranean coast. The village is just a short drive from popular places like Saint Paul de Vence, Grasse, Antibes, or Gourdon.
Of course! Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a captivating hilltop medieval village where you can feel like you stepped back in time hundreds of years. And the low number of tourists helps with that even more! The village also offers stunning views of the surroundings. Tourrettes is a great destination to escape for a moment from bustling towns on the coast.
Tourrettes sur Loup is best known for being a pretty and well-preserved perched village overlooking the Mediterranean. It also goes by the name of “City of Violets” – it’s the only place in France where violets are grown as the horticulturists’ main crop!
Things to do in Tourrettes sur Loup, France
Explore Tourrettes Old Town Streets
Tourrettes is a small village and you don’t need a map to explore it. Let yourself be carried away by its winding narrow streets and sooner or later you’ll discover every corner. Well-preserved old stone buildings decorated with flowers, narrow cobblestone streets, vaulted passageways, artists’ studios, craft shops, restaurants, and of course great views… There is not a better thing to do in Tourettes sur Loup!
Among Tourrettes-sur-Loup village streets you’ll find points of interest like:
- Grand Rue – main village street, full of art galleries, workshops, and small craft shops. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and more are waiting there. Also, be sure to make detours into neighboring small charming streets.
- Saint-Gregory Church – built in the 12th century, and later modified in the 16th and 19th centuries. It’s very simple, both from the outside and inside. The church is located on the village’s main square, which unfortunately was turned into a huge parking lot.
- Château de Villeneuve – 15th-century building with a charming small patio with a fountain, now serving as a Town Hall and exhibition area.
- Saint-Jean Chapel – small, simple-looking chapel with colorful and almost childlike frescoes inside, showing stories from the Bible.
- Tourrettes-sur-Loup viewpoint and orientation table – located at the southern end of the town, featuring lovely views over the village surroundings. It’s a nice and peaceful place for a short break.
As you can see now, there are not that many major points of interest, but don’t let it discourage you! Just wandering along the streets of the village is a pure pleasure and unquestionably the number one thing to do in Tourrettes-sur-Loup! Oh, and bonus points go for exploring the village in a peaceful atmosphere without crowds!
Tourrettes sur Loup Tourist Office is located on Place de la Libération square, just a few steps from Saint-Gregory Church.
Admire views over Tourrettes
For the amazing views over the medieval village and its hanging houses on the cliff edge, be sure to head to Rue de la Bourgade. It’s a road connecting a free parking lot outside of the center with the old town.
Visit Museum Bastide aux Violettes
Just a few steps from Tourrettes old town you’ll find a museum dedicated entirely to violet flowers and their cultivation. There you can learn all about the history and importance of violets for the town, as well as visit a greenhouse with violets.
Entrance costs €2 for a normal ticket and is free for children under 18 years old (April 2026). To check current prices and opening hours visit tourrettessurloup.com website.
Experience Fête des Violettes
If you happen to be on Cote d’Azur in early March you can’t miss the Fête des Violettes festival, a yearly celebration in honor of violet flowers. The event marks the end of the harvest and the arrival of spring.
During that time, the entire village is decorated with flowers, and local cafes and restaurants provide edible violet specialties. There’s also a farmers market with local products and of course a parade of violet flower-covered floats and the Flower Battle. Sounds like one of the best things to do in Tourrettes sur Loup!
Explore local attractions
How to get to Tourrettes sur Loup, France?
Tourrettes-sur-Loup is located about 20km from Gourdon or Grasse, 30km from Nice or Antibes, and 40km from Cannes. The most convenient way to get to the village is by car or by taxi.
Where to park in Tourrettes-sur-Loup?
You can either leave your car in this free parking lot located about 700m from the old town, or in a paid one right in the village center near Saint-Gregory Church, on Place de la Liberation. We recommend the first one – there are amazing views of Tourrettes sur Loup and its surroundings from Rue de la Bourgade, the road leading to the center.
To Tourrettes-sur-Loup by public transport
There is no train station in Tourrettes-sur-Loup so a bus is your best option for getting to the village by public transport. For example, a trip from Grasse will take about 35 minutes, and 2 hours from Antibes. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Tourrettes-sur-Loup by taxi
The most expensive option but also the fastest and available from almost every place you might be in Cote d’Azur. For example, a trip from Nice will take about 30 minutes (€80-100), 40 minutes from Cannes (€85-110), and 15 minutes from Saint Paul de Vence (€26-32). To learn more about taxi connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Tourrettes-sur-Loup
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping la Bergerie or Camping la Rivere might interest you. They are located near Tourrettes-sur-Loup.
Things to do in Tourrettes sur Loup, France – Summing up
Now you know what Tourrettes is all about. It’s such a charming and picturesque village, isn’t it? While there might not be dozens of things to do in Tourrettes sur Loup, it’s still an amazing medieval village on Cote d’Azur worth visiting. And it’s perfect to experience an authentic medieval vibe in peace. We hope that Tourrettes will enchant you from the first steps, as did for us. Have a great trip!
Our opinion about Tourrettes
For us, a visit to Tourrettes-sur-Loup was a day trip, combined with a visit to Grasse, from Cannes where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in late October during afternoon hours, and we were two of just a handful of other people out there. We loved the fact that we had the village to ourselves – it allowed us to experience its amazing vibe even more.
Overall, we really liked Tourrettes. Wandering among its charming, peaceful old town streets was a pure pleasure. It took us about 3 hours to explore the village, including a dinner break at the viewpoint. The only thing we missed somehow was the Museum Bastide aux Violettes. But no worries, we will visit them next time! Maybe during Fête des Violettes?
It’s quite a shame that it’s not better known… But we’re sure that one day it will be! Anyway, be sure not to miss Tourrettes-sur-Loup. while exploring the French Riviera.
Travel tip. If you’d like to experience more authentic medieval villages, be sure to head to Peillon or Sainte-Agnes.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Tourrettes-sur-Loup?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Tourrettes-sur-Loup:
