But there is plenty to occupy you here. There is outstanding scenery with olive groves, vineyards, local gorges and rivers, and the surrounding hills change their aspect with the time of day and the weather – usually with varying shades of blue as they recede into the distance. There are 7 hill villages in the vicinity and each one holds free events, concerts and 'balls' throughout the summer. Sometimes its difficult to decide which one to go to

La Pierre Qui Chante is actually between the villages of Fayence (the chief one in the area ), and St. Paul en Foret, which is much smaller, with just a butchers, a general store, a delicatessen, a bar and 2 restaurants. St Paul, however, although small is much closer, (5 mins in the car, or a half hours walk), and one of the restaurants, L'Echapée Belle, is one of the best in the area as regards quality and price. We often tell our out of  season B&B guests to go there and they always receive a good welcome and are delighted with the meal.

However, there are so many other restaurants close by that its impossible to mention them all. The prices for 3 course set  menus range from 11 euros a head to 33 euros. (the one in St.Paul is 19.50 euros). There is also an extremely good  restaurant about 5mins away called La Table d'Yves which has a 25 euro menu which changes regularly.

Shopping

Fayence has a population of over 4,000, and hence is well provided with shops of all descriptions. It also has markets on 3 mornings a week.

Markets are also held in the other villages, and at Le Muy there is a huge market every Sunday morning. If you enjoy markets you could also go to Ventimille, the first town over the border in Italy, where there is also an
enormous market which takes over the whole town and preads over the beach underneath the palm trees.

Leisure Activities

There are Tourist information offices in many of the villages, and from hem you can find out what's on and information on places to visit.

There are tennis courts at St.Paul, Fayence and Seillans. On the plain below Fayence is a gliding field which is renowned in gliding circles as being the principal one in Europe because the good thermals create conditions for covering long distances. Its possible to have short 'baptčmes' at a reasonable price.

The area is also wonderful for walking, with spectacular scenery.For example from Bagnols en Foret, about 4 km from St.Paul en Foret, there is a really interesting walk which passes dramatic red rocks, a ruined Roman fort and a place where millstones used to be cut from the local stone.

The nearest golf course is the very prestigious Terre Blanche Golf resort.(about 10 minutes away) There is another course at Roquebrune, 16 km away in the direction of Le Muy, and there are also courses half an hours drive away at Grasse, Mouans Sartoux and La Napoule.

Wine

Nearby at Seillans we have a vineyard taken over by a young lady vet, who turned it around and won a gold medal in Paris for her red last year. Her other wines are excallent also.

Even nearer, next to the Table d'Yves restaurant, is a small vineyard which has excellent fruity whites and rosés. The Notre Dame des Cypres vineyard at the bottom of Fayence (photos to the left) produces a very good everyday wine and is always a pleasure to visit.

Slightly further away is the 'Route des vins', just afte the gorge de Pennafort on the way to Le Muy. Here there is one chateau after another, all selling very good wines. The one which we prefer is 'Jas d'Esclans' which produces a 'cru classé', and is organic as well.

Olive Oil

At Callas, not far from the 'Route des vins', there is a good olive mill, supposed to be one of the best  (according to our neighbour who takes his olives there each year to be made into oil). However, there are other olive mills in the area, including ones at Fayence, Seillans, Callian and Bargemon and you can buy local olive oil and olive wood objects from them.