Ramatuelle

Visit Ramatuelle, Provence

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.

See Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Var (the region and department for Ramatuelle) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Ramatuelle

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Suggested places to visit near Ramatuelle, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Cavalaire-sur-Mer 8km; Grimaud 10km; Sainte-Maxime 10km; Bormes-les-Mimosas 23km; Roquebrune-sur-Argens 24km; Frejus 26km; Saint-Raphael 26km; Les-Arcs-sur-Argens 29km; Agay 31km; Cap Esterel 32km; Massif de l'Esterel 36km;

Ramatuelle tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin Germaine l’Hardy-Denonain - remarkable garden (3km) : Domaine du Rayol - remarkable garden (13km) : Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (26km) : Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (26km) : Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument (26km) : Jardin d’oiseaux tropicaux - remarkable garden (32km) : Abbaye du Thoronet (Le Thoronet) - religious monument (36km) : Thoronet Abbey - national monument (39km) :

See more places and a map at places near Ramatuelle