Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Taurenne estate, known as "Castle de Taurenne", is an agricultural site located in Aups, in the Var, operated since the 14th and 15th centuries. Although tradition evokes a possible Templar Commandery, no formal evidence has been found, except for indirect links with the family of Blacas, coseigneurs d'Aups since the Middle Ages. The estate, still dedicated to agriculture, went through crises such as the 1956 freeze and fires, before being revived in the 21st century with modern olive production.

In the 19th century, the Gérard family possessed Tauran until the 1950s, a period marked by natural disasters (fires of 1949 and 1982) that decimated the olive trees. Since 2010, the estate has been revitalized with the planting of 8,500 olive trees and the installation of a state-of-the-art mill in 2012, allowing an integrated production of olive oil AOC. The site, classified as Historic Monument in 1989 for its facades and roofs, now combines heritage and agricultural innovation.

The Château de Taurenne is located in the Verdon Regional Natural Park, on land on a south slope, between 438 and 580 meters above sea level. Its operation, managed by SCEA La Tortue, uses local sources and drilling for irrigation, in accordance with AOC standards. The field produces renowned monovarietal oils, such as Bouteillan or Aaglandau, and is one of the best oils in the world according to Flos Olei.

Taurenne's olive tradition is based on local varieties resistant to the harsh climate of the Haut-Var, using ecological methods such as sheep grazing to fertilize soils and prevent fires. The site, open to the public, offers visits to the orchard, mill and a tasting of the products, while preserving its historical and natural heritage.

Future

The Olive Oil of the Taurenne Castle is today among the 15 best in the world according to the reference guide FLOS OLEI

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