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Massif de l'Esterel

Visit Massif de l'Esterel (Provence, France)

The Massif de l'Esterel is a large natural area along the coast in the Var department of Provence between Saint-Raphael and Theoule-sur-Mer.

There are two 'parts' to the Massif de l'Esterel:

1) the hills, cliffs and mountains that represent the massif rise steeply from the coast. There are several points where you can access the massif and reach the highest peaks - sometimes a small walk is requierd to reach the highest points - and each has its own attractions, and most have impressive views stretching far out along the coast and across the mediterranean.

There is little in the way of villages to discover within the Massif d'Esterel itself, and a great deal of the forests that once covered the area have been destroyed by fire (there are more towards the north) but what remains is still very impressive

2) the coast road which follows the southern border of the Massif de l'Esterel is one of the most scenic coast roads in France. In many places the cliffs of the massif reach the sea, forming small coves surrounded by the red rocks, with more jagged rocks emerging dramatically from the sea.

Along the coast road there are a few small towns and resorts such as Agay, and beaches such as the one at Dramont beach (a World War II landing beach for the invading allied forces that took place on the mediterranean cost on the 15 August 1944) but it is the scenery that is the big attraction.

Photos of Massif de l'Esterel

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Address: Saint-Raphaël, Draguignan, Var, Provence, 83700 || GPS: latitude 43.5, longitude 6.816667

Map of Massif de l'Esterel & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Theoule-sur-Mer 10km; Bagnols-en-Foret 10km; Mandelieu-la-Napoule 11km; Tanneron 11km; Montauroux 14km; Pegomas 14km; Callian 15km; Tourrettes 17km; Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne 17km; Cannes 17km; Fayence 17km;

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

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Massif de l'Esterel, France

• Parc zoologique de Fréjus - zoo or wildlife park (7km)
• Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (9km)
• Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (10km)
• Frejus - town of art and history (10km)
• Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument (10km)
• Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (11km)
• Abbaye de Lerins (Cannes) - religious monument (17km)
• Cannes - ville fleurie 4* (17km)
• Grottes de Saint-Cezaire - site of natural beauty (18km)
• Grasse - secteur sauvegarde (20km)

Market days in Massif de l'Esterel: Regular market(s) are held in Massif de l'Esterel each Tuesday & Monday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Massif de l'Esterel (Francais)