Guides to Provence

Saint-Raphaël does things quietly. It does not announce itself the way Cannes or Saint-Tropez do. What it does instead is offer two thousand years of history, a coastline formed from ancient volcanoes, a beach that changed the course of the Second World War, and a hillside where one of the greatest American novels was written. These are ten of the facts that make it genuinely one of a kind.

Saint-Raphaël is not the most famous town on the Côte d'Azur, and that is precisely what makes it worth knowing. Here is our honest, complete guide to one of the most underrated towns on the French Riviera.

While the world gravitates towards the glamour of Saint-Tropez, the medieval village of Gassin sits quietly 200 metres above it all - with 240 degrees of Mediterranean views, ancient winding streets, and a refined calm that the coast below cannot offer. Discover the elegant side of the peninsula.

Ramatuelle sits on a hill above the Bay of Pampelonne, ten kilometres from Saint-Tropez and a world away from the coast. Vineyards, medieval streets, a celebrated theatre festival and some of the finest beaches in the south of France - all within the boundaries of one commune.

The Presqu'île de Giens is a working fishing peninsula, and its best meals reflect that: fresh, direct and usually eaten somewhere with a view of the water. Here are the four restaurants we recommend without reservation.

Pampelonne icons, a secret cove since 1953, Italian Dolce Vita in the pines, and a candlelit village gem | five of the finest places to eat in Ramatuelle and along the Pampelonne shore.

Pink flamingos, ancient Roman ruins, Nobel laureates and a coastline that changes character every few kilometres. The Presqu'île de Giens is one of the most quietly extraordinary places in the Var - and most visitors to Provence never make it here.

The beaches of Ramatuelle are among the finest on the French Riviera, and most of them are considerably less known than they deserve to be. Here are the three worth knowing, and what makes each one distinct.

Discover Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer's historic town centre on foot — from the golden Statue of Liberty on Place Portalis to the Église Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte and the Sunday market.

From the near-five-kilometre sweep of l'Almanarre to the Blue Flag sands of l'Ayguade and the sheltered family shore at Ceinturon, here are the three best beaches in Hyères.