Old Town of Annot

Annot's old town sits above the modern part of the settlement on a slight rise, its narrow lanes and stone buildings offering the kind of photogenic medieval street scene that is common in Provence but feels genuinely lived-in here rather than curated for tourists. The 11th-century church, the covered market hall, and the old fountain are the anchors; the lanes between them reward slow wandering.

Look for the places where houses have been built directly against the Grès boulders — the smooth sandstone face forming an interior or exterior wall. This practical relationship between medieval builders and the geology around them gives the old town a character you won't find elsewhere. There are a couple of decent cafes on the main square where you can sit with a drink and watch the village go about its business.

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A story
During the Middle Ages, Annot was surrounded by walls and the boulders above town were incorporated into the defences — a natural fortress that cost nothing to build. Some of the medieval street pattern survives, and several houses are built directly against the faces of the Grès boulders, using the rock as a back wall.