You are here: Visit FranceRegions of FranceProvenceVarFrejus

Frejus

Visit Frejus (Provence, France)

Frejus is in the Var department of Provence, just inland from Saint Raphael on the Cote d'Azur. As the coast and region around Fréjus has become developed there is little to separate the town itself from nearby Saint-Raphael.

Frejus has an illustrious past, dating back to pre-Roman times, and 2000 years ago it was an important trade centre and port. The sea has now receded and the main port is now at Saint Raphael and Fréjus-Plage.

Exploring Frejus

Frejus has a calm, pretty town centre to explore and merits a visit when you are visiting the region.

The medieval centre of Frejus is centred around the Place Formagé where the cathedral of Saint Léonce and the Mairie fill two sides of the square. The town hall was originally the bishop’s palace and is painted a pale orange colour. From the square you can stroll down the side streets that contain more pastel-painted houses and shops.

Frejus Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint-Leonce is very much the highlight of your visit to Frejus. A small cathedral in an attractive, simple style the main building dates from the 12th century. You will first notice the decorative carvings around the doorway. But it is inside the cathedral that the greatest treasure can be found, with a baptistry and 12th century cloisters.

Frejus was one of the first centres of Christianity in France and the baptistry dates from the 5th century. Very unusual, it dates from the time when baptism required full body immersion*, with a large central well in which believers would be completely submerged.

The baptistry is entered through a doorway made deliberately low so people would enter bent over, then leave upright through a larger door after baptism. The building itself is octagonal with arches and columns around the edges.

*The guide explained that it was later that people started to worry about children not being baptised and the more current version of baptism with water on the forehead was introduced.

In the cloisters one of the highlights is the painted woodwork in the ceiling of the arcaded edges. The cloisters are listed as a French National Monument.

Elsewhere in Frejus

There is also an attractive 15th century church - the Church of Saint Maximinus - in Frejus.

You will also see scattered Roman remains to be seen around Frejus, including the remains of the aquaduct.

Both the amphitheatre and the theatre are still used for summer time events, although the ampitheatre is smaller than those of Nimes and Arles and in a dilapidated condition.

If you are looking for something more offbeat, track down the Chinese pagoda, or the Sudanese mosque, then the memorial to the war in Indochina. I wasn't quite sure why any of them were here, but quite interesting all the same!

Attractions nearby

Sun lovers will want to head just down the road to the beach where Frejus Plage merges into the more up-market coastal resort of Saint Raphael.

Among the natural highlights close to Frejus, the Massif d'Esterel and the coast road between the massif and the sea are both very scenic.

Photos of Frejus

Click any picture to start the gallery

Tourist classifications for Frejus

Frejus has received the following tourist classifications: ; listed town of Art and History ;

Address: Fréjus, Draguignan, Var, Provence, 83600 || GPS: latitude 43.43, longitude 6.74

Map of Frejus & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Cap Esterel 11km; Bagnols-en-Foret 13km; Sainte-Maxime 16km; Theoule-sur-Mer 18km; Saint-Tropez 19km; Mandelieu-la-Napoule 21km; Tanneron 21km; Montauroux 21km; Callian 21km; Les-Arcs-sur-Argens 21km; Tourrettes 22km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Frejus.
See Provence and Var (the region and department for Frejus) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Frejus, France

• Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument
• Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument
• Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (3km)
• Parc zoologique de Fréjus - zoo or wildlife park (5km)
• Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (19km)
• Seillans - most beautiful village (24km)
• Grimaud - recommended detour (25km)
• Gassin - most beautiful village (26km)
• Jardin Germaine l’Hardy-Denonain - remarkable garden (26km)
• Abbaye de Lerins (Cannes) - religious monument (26km)

Market days in Frejus: Regular market(s) are held in Frejus each Wednesday & Tuesday & Sunday & Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Frejus (Francais)