Ramatuelle
Visit Ramatuelle (Provence, France)
Ramatuelle and Gassin are two beautiful perched villages set high above the Mediterranean sea of the St Tropez peninsula, not far from Saint Tropez. The villages were originally created to escape the pirates who terrorised the Mediterranean waters below.
Ramatuelle sits above the famous Pampelonne beach, famous for both its role in the Allied landings and its renown as one of Saint Tropez’s main beaches - and the first beach to introduce topless sunbathing on the Cote d'Azur
Explore Ramatuelle
Ramatuelle covers the top of the hill and its pleasant narrow streets meander around the town in a circular pattern. Near the top is the Place Gabriel Peri, formerly called ‘Castle Square’ because it held the seigniorial home of the Seigneurs of Audibert.
The main historic sight in Ramatuelle is the Church of Notre Dame which was built in the 16th century against the protective ramparts. Its bell-tower doubled up as a look-out post.
Also in Ramatuelle is a rather intriguing prison. It is tiny and built in a distinctly Arabian style. It was built by Napoleon III but many believed it was really a Turkish bath built by the Saracens.
Really though it is not these individual monuments but the whole ensemble of Ramatuelle that is the reason to visit the village. You will discover narrow shady streets, the stone buildings covered in bougainvillea and the stone gateways that once formed part of the town’s defences.
Ramatuelle’s main square, just outside the stone entrance gateway, is the Place de l’ormeau (Elm Square) and here are a few bars and restaurants where you can stop for refreshments.
There is even a lovely view from the car park in Ramatuelle which looks out over the surrounding vineyards and the southern end of Pampelonne beach and to the light-house at Cap Camarat. (This lighthouse is the second highest in France and you can see Corsica from the top!)
The village generally is known as an arts and crafts centre and there are a number of little galleries to visit as you wander round.
Attractions nearby
The village of Gassin is also very beautiful and just three kilometres from Ramatuelle. Back down on the coast there are numerous places of interest with Saint Tropez and Port Grimaud being among the popular destinations very close by.
Photos of Ramatuelle
Click any picture to start the gallery
Address: Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez, Draguignan, Var, Provence, 83350 || GPS: latitude 43.2167, longitude 6.61194
Map of Ramatuelle & places nearby
Highlights close by
Gassin 3km
La Croix-Valmer 4km
Port Grimaud 7km
Saint-Tropez 7km
See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Ramatuelle.
See Provence and Var (the region and department for Ramatuelle) for more travel ideas...
Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Ramatuelle, France
- Gassin - most beautiful village (3km)
- Jardin Germaine l’Hardy-Denonain - remarkable garden (3km)
- Grimaud - recommended detour (10km)
- Domaine du Rayol - remarkable garden (13km)
- Bormes-les-Mimosas - ville fleurie 4* (23km)
- Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument (26km)
- Frejus - town of art and history (26km)
- Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (26km)
- Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (26km)
- Parc zoologique de Fréjus - zoo or wildlife park (31km)
Market days in Ramatuelle: Regular market(s) are held in Ramatuelle each Thursday & Thursday & Sunday & Sunday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Ramatuelle (Francais)
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