Brignoles City Map Poster

About Brignoles

Brignoles is a sub-prefecture of the Var department. It is located to the west of Draguignan, and it extends over an area largely reclaimed from the forest. The commune was part of a region called "Pagus Bracaraugustensis" in medieval times, but this name eventually disappeared from common usage as well as any trace on today's map: Brignoles became known simply as "Brinhòla", which means 'the town with many elms'. The city has preserved its old quarter and its walls; some parts date back to around 1550. At that time, there were 16 burghers' houses in stone while another 306 were built later in wood (mainly for craftsmen). From that period come two large doors (Porte de France et Porte du Roi) decorated with arches supported by columns resting on square pillars; these are all that remain of what must have been one if not two churches demolished at a later date.