Saint-Raphaël, Cote d'Azur / French Riviera
A stone's throw from Fréjus, this seaside resort has retained an old-fashioned charm that leaves no one indifferent. With its marinas and picturesque seaside, it is a little paradise for those who love nautical pleasures!
What makes this town special?
The small 19th century fishing village gradually transformed into an upscale Belle Époque seaside resort with the arrival of the railway, and hosted a large number of celebrities, including John Fitzgerald, Marcel Aymé or the future Queen Elizabeth II. From this period, the town has preserved its Promenade des Bains on the seafront, its sumptuous Palladian-style villas, its Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire-de-Lépante basilica and its casino.
Places not to be missed on holiday in Saint-Raphaël, France
Today Saint-Raphaël has five marinas, 24 kilometers of coastline, and offers a multitude of coves, creeks and beaches between the Estérel massif and the Mediterranean. Something to delight all lovers of the sea. For walkers, the coastal path from the port of Santa-Lucia to the beach of Pourrousset offers a four-hour hike that is worth the detour! With Sanary-sur-Mer, Saint-Raphaël was a pioneer for diving. You can therefore find many spots, to choose according to your level.
A walk in the old town will allow you to discover a small typical Provencal flower and vegetable market. Do not miss the Archaeological Museum, installed in the former presbytery of the Sant-Rafèu church, which presents all the archaeological discoveries of the region and offers very interesting digital tours for young and old.
The Louis-de-Funès museum, the only museum in France entirely devoted to the artist and the man, retraces the life and work of the actor, with the help of a hundred objects.
Opposite the casino, the Bonaparte garden invites you to take a contemplative break facing the sea. This public park offers an incredible view of the bay and the old port. It is good to walk in the alleys of this pleasant landscaped park planted with palm trees and Mediterranean essences. Children can let off steam in the playgrounds designed for them.
Finally, Saint-Raphaël offers many events, including the very famous Jazz Festival, at the beginning of July, a meeting eagerly awaited by fans every year!
Places to visit on vacation from Saint-Raphaël, France
A trip by car is a must, on the Corniche d'Or! Between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes, this road, which offers spectacular panoramas, was inaugurated in 1903 at the instigation of the Touring Club de France. It is bordered by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, which contrast with the red rock of the Estérel massif. A real pleasure for the eyes over 40 kilometres!
The Estérel massif offers 45 kilometers of hiking trails and more than 100 kilometers of circuits for mountain biking and horse riding. You can also practice climbing surrounded by sumptuous landscapes. So it's the perfect time to get moving, get your fill of nature in an environment of rare beauty, and above all, get some oxygen!
It would be a shame not to visit Fréjus, city of art and history, with its cathedral and its cloister, its theater and its amphitheatre, and its circuit of crafts in the old centre.
The medieval village of Roquebrune-sur-Argens, 15 kilometers away, is also worth a visit, with its church, its tower and its ramparts, its sundial and its surrounding paths... Not forgetting its chocolate museum: the Maison du Chocolat et Cacao ! Nestled in an old 17th century chapel , this unusual space exhibits objects related to cocoa, from its origins to the present day. A visit to discover with the family!
