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The only access to this glorious perched village is via two gates in its 13th-century walls. Within, steep paved streets climb tortuously to the feudal castle. Views over olive groves to the sea are outstanding.

Almost 820 m (2,700 ft) up, Mons has the heritage to match its grandiose position: remains of the great Roche Taillée Roman aqueduct run nearby (see Roche Taillée, Mons). In the village itself, narrow alleys wind around ancient porches, arcades and the wonderful 12th-century church. A gem.

It’s difficult to resist a village claiming to be “world capital of candied chestnuts”. In the heart of the Maures mountains (see p79), Collobrières is surrounded by forested slopes.

With the medieval castle up top, the rest of the old village hugs the rocky promontory. Its labyrinth of streets and vaulted stairways unfolds to the modern village below.

Although swamped by the overspill from St-Tropez in summer, Ramatuelle remains a lovely hilltop village. Its tiny streets and vaulted passages are heavy with flowers.

The medieval St-Jean gate is a great introduction to this ravishing maze of streets set above the terraced hillsides and vineyards of Bandol. The sun is warm, the air scented and the panorama breathtaking.

Remote, perched 600 m (2,000 ft) up and surrounded by pine forest, this is a picturesque tangle of streams, medieval buildings and old stone streets leading to a main square lined with restaurants.

This is high, wild country, where the Knights Templar made a base. The 12th-century StAndré chapel testifies to their presence, and affords unbeatable views over the nearby Artuby Gorges.

Nestling amid forests of cork-oak and chestnut, La Garde-Freinet stands sentry to the wild Maures Mountains. Higher still are the ruins of the medieval village fortified by Saracens.

Fortified on the side of a green hill, Callas has a winding, self-contained charm imposed by its isolation near the edge of the Canjuers Plateau. It’s also a fine base for walking the nearby Pennafort Gorges.