Rians, Var

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Rians

Rians is located in France
Rians
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Var
Arrondissement Brignoles
Canton Rians
Intercommunality Verdon Mont Major
Mayor Alain Bremond
(2001–2008)
Statistics
Elevation 291–651 m (955–2,136 ft)
(avg. 455 m or 1,493 ft)
Land area1 96.87 km2 (37.40 sq mi)
Population2 4,289  (2006)
 - Density 44 /km2 (110 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 83104/ 83560
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 43°36′28″N 5°45′28″E / 43.6078°N 5.7578°E / 43.6078; 5.7578

Rians (Occitan: Rians) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

Rians is a completely unspoilt provencal village in the Upper Var located just behind the Mont Saint Victoire. Whereas other villages in Provence have become totally dominated by tourism and so lost authenticity, Rians remains a true Provençal town. The main employment is agriculture, predominantly wine, with several excellent local producers. The village itself is built on a hill that is dominated by a 12th-century bell tower and the church of Notre Dame de Nazareth. The Town is made up of concentric medieval streets that work their way down the hill. It is a maze of alleys, passages and beautiful squares. One particularly beautiful square is the Place Saint Laurent, on which is the Summer Palace of the Bishops of Aix en Provence. Aix becomes unbearably hot in the summer, and the Bishop would retire to Rians for the cooler, cleaner air. The central square boasts the classic combination of cafe with terrace under plane trees, boulangerie /patisserie, boucherie, and a wonderful poissonerie. Of course there are fountains sprinkled throughout the town.

Rians is very lively in the summer, with dancing in the squares on July 14 and on the Fete de St Laurent August 8.

The Fete de la Courge in October should not be missed.

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