St Rapheal

Saint-Raphael is a resort a little way east of Frejus in the French Riviera.

The town is surely one of the oldest resorts on the coast - there is evidence that wealthy Romans used to pass their summers here 2000 years ago! There are also traces of both prehistoric and ancient Greek occupation - visit the archaeology museum in the town to learn more.

In more recent years it was Napoleon who brought Saint-Raphael to the public gaze when he landed here after his Egypt 'adventure' - and set off from Saint-Raphael when first sent into exile.

Nowadays it is one of the calmer resorts on the French Riviera, standing in the shadow of the rugged Massif de l'Esterel. The Massif de l'Esterel is a dramatic landscape of rocks and shrubs, perfect for hiking (many of the trees that once grew here have been destroyed by fires).