Contact us
Var - Vallescure
Saint Raphael lies between a rocky and scenic coastline of red mountains dramatically falling down into the Mediterranean and a long flat and sandy shore rimmed with majestic umbrella pines and lagoons. The old village of St Raphael is made of narrow cobbled stone streets nestled around a modest medieval church while the town centre was extended, at the end of the XIXth century, around this old historic centre in a typical white and light architecture called 3rd Republic style. At that time the seafront promenade and neighbouring streets and squares as well as the old harbour were created in this refined style thus creating an interesting and classy architectural unity that makes St Raphael look like a mini Cannes.
The leisure port, Santa Lucia has been added at a much later stage and is now the 3rd largest of the French Mediterranean coast. The activity is organised around the old centre with a well-stocked covered market and its surrounding streets, overflowing with all kind of food stores, restaurants and shops which makes it a lively place all day long and until late in the evening. The old port and seafront are also a lively area, more dedicated to bars and restaurants and chic boutiques. Further to the central beach of St Raphael and the romantic coves of Boulouris, sea lovers will enjoy the long sandy beach of Frejus-Plage contiguous to St Raphael old port, lined with majestic palm trees, beach restaurants and a lively street market several days per week. Then between Frejus and St Aygulf lies a very long and wild sandy beach of 7 km/4 mi, the only one of the area, the next long stretch of sand being South of St Tropez.
For nature lovers, the Esterel or Massif des Maures mountains (both nearby) and the "gorges du Verdon" canyon (90 km) are a must.
The Esterel is a low-lying, ravined mountain range extending to the sea with promontories, deep creeks, headlands and beaches. Its fire-red colours form a striking contrast with the indigo blue of the Mediterranean. The Corniche d'Or coastal road running between St-Raphaël and Cannes is a great way of exploring the area.
The Massif des Maures Mountains stretches from Hyères to St Raphaël, with emerald-green vegetation reaching between the sea and the Gapeau and Argens valleys. The Corniche des Maures is a magnificent road for touring. The interland was long isolated and remains wild. It is home to interesting sites such as the village of Grimaud, Verne Monastery and the villages of Collobrières and Bormes-les-Mimosas.
To enjoy le Verdon you must take the Route de la Corniche Sublime which begins at Comps-sur-Artuby, a former stronghold of the Templar Knights. The village is at the foot of a rock crowned by the 13C Eglise St André where the views over the Artuby gorge and the Provençal landscape are really worth the climb. The road then heads for the amazing Balcons de la Mescla overlooking the Verdon. Continue on past the two Tunnels de Fayet which command a breathtaking view of the curve of the canyon, turning into the Falaise des Cavaliers. The latter towers above the precipice between 250 and 400m high and stretches out over 3km. Then the road leads into the Cirque de Vaumale offering splendid views on the way out. On your way back to St Raphael, the turquoise Lac de Ste-Croix into which the Verdon flows, and the attractive village of Moustiers-Ste-Marie , renowned for its fine ceramics are well worth a stop.
