St Raphael, France cruises
This Mediterranean coastal mountain range is just over a 30 minute drive from St Raphael. These mountains are originally volcanic, giving them their distinctive and reddish hue. If you enjoy hiking, walking or cycling, you will love the spectacular scenery, warm weather and incomparable views this region offers. There are a number of established walking and hiking routes to choose from.
The terrain of this mountain range is rugged, wild and carved up by ravines, rivers, lakes and dense oak forests. The highest point is Mont Vinaigre, which stands at a huge 2,000 feet. The Massif as a whole covers a total area of over 120 square miles, of which 50 square miles are protected as part of the Forêt Domaniale de l’Estérel (National Forest of Esterel).
Discover the Corniche de L’Estérel
St Raphael is also the perfect base from which to explore another spectacular area of the French coast – the Corniche de l’Estérel (also known as the Corniche d’Or, or ‘Gold Coast’). One of France’s – and indeed Europe’s – most beautiful drives, it offers spectacular sea views and undiscovered little coves which lend themselves well to swimming and cooling off from the summer heat.
Below plunging sheer rock edges an azure sea stretches out lazily for miles, lit up by the sunshine. The rock is a mixture of rhyolite and porphyry, turning it a distinctive and fiery red. The route stretches 18 miles in total, and arguably the most visually impressive part is between Anthéor and Théole-sur-mer. This is where the narrow and impossibly winding road skirts close to the coast and through tightly-knit villages.
More highlights of the route include the road from Agay to Cap Roux, which is full of different views at every turn, incredibly varied vegetation and pine trees which stretch right down to the water’s edge.
In this area, make sure you look out for the villas perched up in the rocky hills, and admire the dense vegetation you will see – Aleppo pines, palm trees, agaves, eucalyptus trees and mimosa all grow in great quantities here. Whether you choose to drive along the coastal road or catch a bus to one of the many beaches or destinations dotted along the way, this part of the country is definitely worth a visit.
St Raphael's Culinary Highlights
As well as enjoying the scenery and nature of this beautiful region, a trip to St Raphael is also a fantastic opportunity to sample many culinary delights that this region is well known for. Some of the delights include the soups, such as Bouillabaisse (seafood soup), Soupe au Pistou (vegetable soup), and Aïgo Boulido (garlic and egg soup). On top of these, you will be able to find many other tasty French dishes including excellent ratatouille, and a large selection of divine seafood options in St Raphael and its surrounding area. The wine is, unsurprisingly, also excellent here, with the region being famous for its wine production, in particular, some excellent rosé varieties.