Discover saint raphaël

Originally a small fishing village, saint-raphaël is now world-renowned for its huge choice of activities, wonderful climate and beautiful environment. saint-raphaël comprises a delightful town centre.

Visit of the city  Guided tour on foot of the town centre  Every Thursday morning (10.00-12.00) Promenade des Bains : this vast esplanade offers beautiful views over the Bay of Saint-Raphaël and its two famous offshore volcanic rocks - the "Sea Lion" and the "Earth Lion".  Plage du Veillat (public sandy beach with lifeguard in Summer ; sun lounger/parasol hire)  The ancient parish church or "Eglise des Templiers" : a listed monument since 1907, is Europe's oldest sanctuary dedicated to the Archangel Raphaël.  The adjacent 30-metre high watchtower, dates back to the 13th or 14th century.  What to see : Notre Dame de la Victoire de Lépante, a Neo-Byzantine style cathedral.  Place Lamartine and place Léon Bourgois : a friendly meeting place for local "boules" players under the shade of the plane trees.  Markets :  Bric-a-brac : - every Tuesday, Place Coullet  Food :- Every morning, Place Victor Hugo and Republique  - Sunday mornings, Rue de la République  Manufactured goods, clothing :  - Thursday morning, Parking Cagnat, Avenue de Valescure.  Arts & Crafts :  - Promenade des Bains and Vieux Port (Old Port) (every evening from mid-June to mid-September)

Old port  Fish Market : From 7.30 every morning you can purchase your fish straight from the fishermen on the quaysides.  La promenade du Commandant Guilbaud  ou Cours Jean Bart : You will enjoy wandering along the quays in the shade of the plane trees and admiring the splendid view over the port.  Les Joutes Provençales (Water Jousting) : Provençal water jousting was first born in three thousand B.C. when contests were organised by local fishermen to celebrate their art.

Dramont  Ile d'Or" Island : The island's latter-day Medieval-style tower was built in the 19th century by the eccentric Doctor Auguste Luthaud. Luthaud proclaimed himself king of the island and received many local personalities there.  Beaches : Plage du Débarquement shingle beach, Plage du Camp Long and Plage du Pourousset sandy beaches.  Poussaï Port : A typical fishing port  Cap Dramont : Part of the Estérel's national forest, the Cape forms one of the most beautiful and accessible stretches of the "Sentier du Littoral" or Coastal Footpath.  Dramont Lakes : Ancient mines at origin of the blue porphyry which now forms the dramont's pretty shingle beach

Agay bay  Agay Bay, forming a natural gateway to the Estérel hills, is renowned for the remarkable beauty of its beaches and its safe anchorages. "Phare de la Baumette" lighthouse and the "Fontaine pour le Petit Prince" fountain pay tribute to the writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Anthéor - le trayas  The impressive red rocks of the Estérel hills offer a unique and characteristic craggy coastline forming 10 kilometres of pretty creeks and beaches. Hovering between emerald green and blue, the clear Mediterranean waters reveal stunning sea beds which can be admired from the "Route de la Corniche" coast road.  The "Corniche d'Or" Coast Road  You will love discovering the breathtaking colours of the 27 km coast road or "Corniche d'Or" between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes, where the stunning red rocks of the Estérel Hills plunge into the azure-blue waters below.

The coastal footpath  The Coastal Footpath : You can enjoy a great 2 1/2 hour (8km) walk from Port Santa Lucia to Pointe Longue (in Le Dramont).  This coastal footpath was originally intended to help customs officers survey boats arriving on the coast.  This marked footpath is packed with volcanic remains :  quartz-rich lava from Santa Lucia's volcano resembling a huge mass of "organ pipes", just after Santa Lucia Port.  after Aigue Bonne beach, remarkable black rocks formed by volcanic dust 230 million years ago.  Plage du Débarquement, an incredibly hard grey-blue volcanic rock, dating back 30 million years emanating from the ancient Dramont mines

The hilltop villages of the fayence area  Perched on hilltops or hanging on mountainsides, the 8 Fayence-area hilltop villages have stood the test of time. In them you will discover the pleasure of their criss-crossing mediaeval lanes, their harmonious squares, their fountains, their traditional Provençal-style homes. Lakes, ponds and streams provide many possibilities for fun in the water.