Out and About
Hover to see a larger image |
There are so many places to visit and things to see on the
French Riviera that we could fill several pages. So here are
just a selection of ideas to get you in the holiday mood!
Places to Visit
St Tropez - If you wish to see the
rich and famous and their floating palaces moored in
the port, go to St Tropez. There are endless little
streets with shops and art galleries in the old town
behind the port to explore.
Hover to see a larger
image |
Port Grimaud - Dubbed the Venice of
Provence, it is hard to believe that pretty Port Grimaud
was built in the 1960's on top of a swamp. Within the
high walls barricading the town, Provençal cottages,
painted all different colours, stand gracefully alongside
yacht-laden waterways.
The Islands - The alluring Iles d'Hyeres
are well worth a visit. The largest is Porquerolles,
7km long and 3km wide. Port Cros, the middle island,
is a national park, while Ile de Levant is a nudist
colony!
Hover to see a larger image
|
Gorges du Verdon - The gorgeous 25km
Gorges du Verdon, the largest canyon in Europe, is midway
between Nice and Avignon. It takes about two hours from
Parc Oasis. You get a spectacular view from two cliff-side
roads. The extraordinary colour of the water in the
lake at the end is a vibrant turquoise/green.
Hover to see a larger image
|
Hill Top Villages - The hill top villages
of Gassin, Grimaud, Ramatuelle and Borne de Mimosas
all offer spectacular views of either the Bay of St
Tropez or the surrounding countryside. They all have
great restaurants, although not necessarily cheap!
The Beaches
Cavalaire - Two miles of sandy beaches,
backed by bushes with plenty of free parking. There
are numerous little cafes on these beaches where you
can have lunch.
Gigaro - A charming little hideaway
at the end of a no-through road is part sandy, part
shingle. You can walk along the coastal path towards
Cap d'Esteril. Lots of nice beach cafes!
Hover to see a larger image
|
Pampelonne, St Tropez - Famous for
its beaches. Car-parking is around FF16 - FF20. Don't
forget to visit Club55 (Cinquante Cinq). You can get
there by car or walk along the beach, but to arrive
properly you moor your £10+ million yacht in the
bay and they will send a launch to bring you in!
Plage de L'Escalet - This is magical
and completely different to Pampelonne. It takes about
30 minutes to walk there along low cliffs and scrubland
and across small beaches, but when you arrive you are
rewarded by a series of little rocky and sandy coves.
Heaven!
Things to do
Hover to see a larger image
|
The kids will love it. - The semi-permanent
fairground less than half a mile away is one of the
best (even if you do not normally like them). There
are many crazy golf courses nearby, and an aqua-park
7 miles away at St Maxime. Many other attractions are
described in the leaflets in the brochure pack at the
timber lodge.
Are you a walker? - The coastal paths,
always overlooking the Mediterranean, are sensational,
while the inland hills, whether the nearby Foret des
Maures or the infinite variety of the Luberon range,
offer endless opportunities, especially the Gorges du
Verdon described earlier.
Car trips - will take you through all the magical beauty of the Provençal countryside, either inland where it is easy to get away from the touristy jams, or eastwards along the coast to the glamour of Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo and even Italy. Or why not go westwards towards Aix, Marseille, and the Camargue?
Hover to see a larger image
|
Wine Tasting
Visit a vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting.
There are many splendid ones, large and small, near
at hand. In particular, the Chateau Minuty and Chateau
Barbeyrolles near Gassin.
|
