St-Tropez to Toulon
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd St-Tropez to Toulon Why Go? St-Tropez ....................... 114 Sizzling St-Tropez lives up to its reputation as a mythical The Peninsula ................121 fishing port with magnificent sex appeal. While away the Golfe de St-Tropez .........122 days strolling the village and people-watching in the Place Haut-Var ........................123 des Lices, or sipping a cappuccino alongside the yacht-lined quay. Then head out exploring the peninsula’s soul-stirring Massif des Maures ....... 128 coastal paths, chichi beach clubs, and vine-knitted capes. Collobrières When you’re ready to move out of the limelight, you’ll be & Around ...................... 128 enveloped by nature in the Massif des Maures, where thick Corniche des Maures ... 129 chestnut groves harbour small villages and surprising vistas. Le Lavandou ................. 130 The main trio of islands in the Îles d’Hyères offer a splen- Îles D’Hyères did, quiet coastal escape. Inland, in the Haut-Var, meander & Îles Du Fun ................ 130 through stone villages each with its own character and Île de Porquerolles ........131 history, and meet the laid-back people who maintain an Toulon ............................135 unpretentious but enviable way of life. Oh, and allow plenty Sanary-sur-Mer ............ 136 of time to dine well. Best Places to Eat Driving Distances (km) » Chez Bruno (p 126 ) » Auberge de l’Omède Collobrieres 72 (p 122 ) Draguignan 103 56 » Le Clos des Vignes (p 127 ) Hyéres 39 30 82 » Logis du Guetteur (p125 ) St-Tropez 97 30 52 50 Best Places to Toulon 20 38 83 18 68 Stay » Hôtel Lou Cagnard (p 115 ) » Hôtel de la Tour (p 136 ) » Hôtel Bellevue (p 130 ) Bandol Collobrieres Draguignan Hyéres St-Tropez » Hôtel des Deux Rocs (p 123 ) 111 Getting Around DON’T MISS Airport arrivals don’t need to navigate big-city Toulon; the Les Rencontres du airport is east, near Hyères beaches. Driving into St-Tropez Parc are breathtaking, at high season can take hours; arrive by boat. Driving and free and twice-monthly cycling routes are abundant; highlights include the coastal nature hikes. Organised Corniche des Maures, the Route des Crêtes from Bormes- from April to October les-Mimosas, and the roads in the Massif des Maures and by the Maison du the Haut-Var. Having your own wheels helps in the interior. Parc (p 133 ) on Île de Coastal destinations are served by bus and train. Porquerolles: birdwatch- ing, discovering bats, owls and marine life. THREE PERFECT DAYS Day 1: St-Tropez Style In St-Tropez mooch around place des Lices with its mar- Best Escapes vellous market, followed by a portside coffee at Sartre’s » Domaine du Rayol (p 129 ) TOULON TO ST-TROPEZ Sénéquier (p 119 ) and a stroll along the coastal path » Île de Porquerolles ( 131) (p 115 ). Devote the afternoon to art and shopping, and p & Île de Port-Cros (p 133 ) come dusk, motor to Plage de Gigaro, where Couleurs Jardin (p 122 ) beckons for a beautiful dinner on the sand. » Haut-Var (p 123 ) Day 2: Travel to Eat Best Tours & Enjoy a morning pottering around the hilltop market of Ramatuelle, then lunch on grilled fish by the sea at Chez Courses Camille (p 122 ) or between vines at Auberge de l’Oumède » Peninsula Nature Walks (p 122 ). Drive inland through the Massif des Maures to Ramatuelle tourist office taste sweet chestnuts in Collobrières and dine rustic at organises guided coastal La Petite Fontaine (p 129 ). If it’s winter, delve instead into and vineyard nature walks. Aups’ truffle market and dine at Chez Bruno (p 126 ). » Snorkelling Domaine du Day 3: A Wine-Lover’s Trail Rayol and Hyères tourist of- fice offer guided snorkelling. Head to Maison des Vins Côtes de Provence (p 125 ) in Les » Château de Berne Arcs-sur-Argens, for all things wine. Then visit Chapelle (www. chateauberne.com; de Ste-Roseline (p125 ) and the neighbouring winery and chemin de Berne) Presents vineyards to the east, near La Motte. Dine at Domaine de truffle-hunting, cooking la Maurette (p 125 ) in a humble auberge next to sweeping courses, watercolour-paint- vines. Alternatively, discover the matchless Appellation ing, perfume-creation and d’Origine Protégée (AOP) reds of Bandol, and sup at jazz picnics. Domaine de Terrebrune (p 137 ). Resources Marvelous Markets » Vins de Provence (www. » Monday Bormes-les- Mimosas, Port Grimaud vinsdeprovence.com) Wine. » Tuesday Bandol, Callas, Cotignac, Fayence, Hyères, » Visit Var (www.visitvar. Lorgues, St-Tropez fr) Information on the Var » Wednesday Bormes-les-Mimosas, La Garde Freinet, region. Salernes, Sanary-sur-Mer » Maisons d’Hôtes du Var » Thursday Aups, Bargemon, Callas, Collobrières, Fayence, (www.mhvprovence.com) Grimaud, Hyères, Port Grimaud, Ramatuelle Stylish B&Bs. » Friday Entrecasteaux, La Motte, Port Grimaud » Pays des Maures (http://en. maures.latitude » Saturday Carcès, Claviers, Cogolin, Draguignan, Fayence, -gallimard.com) Official site Hyères, St-Tropez for the Massif des Maures. » Sunday Ampus, Cavalière (all-day flea market), Collobrières, La Garde Freinet, Port Grimaud, Ramatuelle, Salernes, Vidauban.