Living in Var
One of the most forested areas in the whole of France, living in Var is great for those who love nature, hiking and the outdoors, as well as those who want to be close to glitz and glamour of the coastal resorts and the big cultural cities of Nice and Marseille. It’s also ideal for animal lovers who want to bring their pets with them. Var geography includes over 200 beaches to choose from, perfect for those who love a mix of coastline and countryside.
What cities are in Var? Toulon is one of the largest cities in the department and is the capital of Var. A port city, it’s a laidback place and not overly touristy, but has plenty to keep you occupied from museums to cultural attractions. Ride the Telepherique du Mont Faron to see the spectacular scenes from the cable car overlooking the Côte d'Azur, visit the National Marine Museum or book a ticket to see a show at the Toulon opera house.
Living in Var means that you have many towns and villages which to base yourself in. Grasse, Brignoles and Draguignan are some of the best places to live in Var. Grasse is the perfume capital of France and lies in the hills above Cannes. It’s home to the International Perfume Museum. Brignoles is a historic town situated just north of Toulon and is the capital of Green Provence, which also holds a yearly medieval festival. Draguignan was a city of counts and today is still filled with grand old houses, as well as several museums like the Museum of Folk Arts and Traditions of Mid-Provence and the Artillery Museum.
Many people, however, choose to live in Var because they want to live a rural life and be part of nature. Some of the most beautiful villages in Var include Le Lavandou, Bormes-les-Mimosas and Porquerolles.
Cost of living in Var
According to LivingCost.org, Toulon stands at number 54th most expensive city in France out of 151. This means that the cost of living here is only slightly above average, but it’s still way cheaper than some of the country’s most expensive cities such as Paris, Lyon or even nearby Cannes or Nice. And within the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, it’s the second cheapest city out of the top 10. The site states that a family of four would need an average of €2,737 per month with rent to live in the city, while a single person would need €1,184 per month. A local lunch menu costs on average €12 per person, while dinner out at a nice restaurant for two costs an average of €67. And for a monthly travel pass on public transport you’ll be paying around €27.30.
If you compare the cost of living in Var with many of the resort towns on the French Riviera such as Cannes, Saint Tropez and Antibes, you’ll find it will be significantly cheaper, however, it is slightly more expensive than nearby Marseille. But you will find that the cost of living decreases in many of the smaller villages, as well as in the north of the department, away from the coast.
Weather/air quality in Var
The Var has a Mediterranean climate and experiences mild, yet wet winters, hot and sunny summers, mild springs and rainy autumns. January is the coldest month with an average of 9.6°C, while the hottest months are July and August with an average of 24.5°C. October is the wettest month with an average of 100mm. The area can experience quite a bit of wind too which comes done from the Rhone Valley. In summer, this breeze helps to cool the area down, but in winter it can add that extra chill factor. Those looking to move for a better climate are will definitely be pleased with the weather in Toulon as it experiences a total of 2,850 hours of sunshine per year, so there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.
Var generally has ok air quality, but keep in mind that some of the nearby areas such as Nice and the French Riviera often suffer from some of France’s worst air quality, so it can sometimes be poor here too. It’s generally better in rural areas or closer to the north of the department.
History and Culture in Var
The department of Var was created during the French Revolution in 1970, but before that when it was the royal province of Provence it had a varied and colourful history. The capital of Toulon was moved to Grasse in 1793, then to Brignoles in 1795 and then to Draguignan in 1797. It was not moved back to Toulon until the 1970s. In 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, the area was occupied to Austrian troops for three years until 1818.
Living in Var, you’ll have access to a wealth of cultural attractions too. The culture in Var is like its location, set between the glitzy coastal resorts of the French Riviera and quaint Provence with its hilltop villages. There are over 80 museums in the region, including the bauxite mining museum (Museum Gueules Rouges), many monuments and around 30 parks and gardens, including the so called 14 Remarkable Gardens.
Choose this area and it also means that you’ll have access to some of southern France’s best cuisine, from lots of fresh produce to seafood. Ratatouille, fougasse bread, tapenade, Bouillabaisse fish stew and truffle brouillade (similar to scrambled eggs with shaved truffles) are all typical dishes found here.
