The village of Comps-sur-Artuby is on one of the roads into the Verdon region and is midway between the plains below and the mountains surrounding the Verdon. The traveler in a hurry does not stop here, but it is nevertheless an ideal place to stretch your feet and have a drink on the terraces in the village.

To the north of the center is a hill decorated with two chapels. There are also several vantage points with a 360° panorama.

Access by public transport

Unfortunately only school buses run between Comps, la Martre and Draguignan.

Access by car

The village is on the direct link between the Le Muy exit of the A8 motorway, Draguignan and Castellane. Comps-sur-Artuby is also north of the Camp de Canjuers military area. You cross this when you come up from Draguignan, you are not allowed to leave the road.

Parking site

There is a large new car park in the south of the village, this is also the starting point.

Short trail

We go back from the parking lot to the main road, turn right there and immediately left again in front of a plane tree. In Rue de la Bourgade we go ahead and pass the washhouse, which is on the ground floor of a building. Shortly thereafter we come to a larger square with the schoolyard and here the ascent up the hill begins on the left.

Above the Sainte Philomène church (19th century), we follow the road to the right and in front of a tall house we turn left again and in hairpin bends up to the first chapel.

Chapel of St. André

This chapel was attached to the castle, of which hardly any traces are visible today. This was the village church until the 19th century. It was built in the 12th century and later increased. The church tower seems to have been added in the 15th century.

The various parts of the building have different coverings and this is evidence of the construction times. The apse is covered with natural stone slabs (lauzes). Round roof tiles lie on the nave and glazed elements can be found on the tower. The latter have a curious feature: at the corners there are hollow bulbs that do whistle in the wind. They are called wolf bricks. It was believed that when there was a strong mistral, wild animals could come down from the mountains into the village and the whistle warned early about.

Viewing platform above the chapel

Behind the chapel, the path continues in a hairpin bend up to a platform at the highest point of the hill. Underneath is a water reservoir. There is a large panoramic table all around. You can see down on the village, the Artuby gorge and the Verdon region to the north.

In the middle of the platform there is a German border point in the ground, which a jolly geodesic probably anchored here.

From up here you can also see the second chapel. You can get there quickly via a path.

Chapel of St. Jean Baptiste

This chapel was also built in the 12th century. However, since it was not attached to the castle, the apse could be oriented exactly to the east, according to the rules of the time. On June 24, St. John's Day (St. Jean), a ray of sunshine leads into a cross-shaped opening above the apse to the small ox-eye over the entrance on the west side.

Viewpoint east of the chapels

One can proceed east on the wide ridge behind the second chapel to have a good look back at the village, the two chapels and the viewing platform.

Back to the village

In front of the Chapel of St. Jean Baptiste, go down the stairs to Rue des Templiers. Here further to the church Sainte Philomène which we know from the ascent. From here you can go back through the streets to the starting point.