The popular resort of St Raphael is located at the western end of the Cote d'Azur, half way between the glamorous towns of Cannes and St Tropez. Within easy reach of all the major towns and tourist attractions, both on the coast and inland, St Raphael is a great place to base yourself if you want to explore the French Riviera and the Provencal countryside. The town itself is also a great place to visit, with its charming old town, excellent restaurants and lively nightlife and its stunning beaches, popular all summer with locals and visitors alike.
The St Raphael area covers over 30 kilometres of coastline and is home to more than 30 beaches, ranging from long stretches of sand to tiny, rocky coves. Within the centre of St Raphael are two beaches that are very popular with families, such as the Beaurivage, which is for swimmers only, and the main beach, Plage du Veillat. Sandy, and backed by a long promenade, the beach is again for swimmers only, with no water sports allowed, and is a mix of public and private sections. You are also within easy reach of a selection of bar, restaurants and even supermarkets, should you want to make your own beach picnic!
Further afield is the Plage Pescade, one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on this stretch of coast, and with no access from the road, it is often quieter too. Divers are well catered for at the Plage du Debarquement, where the Allied forces landed in 1944. Organised trips take amateur and experienced divers out to sites of archaeological interest, while in the summer a tourist boat runs out to the Ile d'Or. The island itself is home to some attractive scenery and an impressive Saracen tower and supposedly inspire Herge to create the Tintin story L'Ile Noir.
Tear yourself away from the beaches for a few hours, and visitors will find a picturesque and interesting old town. The town centre is home to an archaeological museum, featuring artefacts from the many Roman sites found in this part of France, as well as typical Provencal buildings and a daily produce market. Climb to the top of the 13th century watchtower for a great view over the old town and along the coast. The “quartier de la marine” was once the original fishing village, but the area was transformed into an exclusive holiday resort in the 19th century. Many of those villas are still owned by holidaymakers today, while the town casino is still open to gamblers.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in St Raphael? Then below is a selection of gites in St Raphael and villas in St Raphael that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
