Bandol Holidays, France Known for its hearty red wines, this former tuna port makes a good-value touring base. Apartment blocks and a vast marina have altered the views in recent decades, but Bandol’s tree-lined promenade and a protective arc of wooded hills make a scenic setting. Quayside markets and the Maison des Vins du Bandol showcase local products. Boats ply to nearby Ile de Bendor which offers superb water sports and France’s largest exhibition of wines and spirits.
La Cadiere-d'Azur Holidays, France Inland from Bandol, the sleepy medieval ‘village perché’ of La Cadière d’Azur has a lovely pine-and-vineyard setting. Sheer limestone cliffs face the Sainte-Baume massif on its northern side. Craft and produce shops line its flower-filled streets, while the nearby Moulin de St-Côme sells the prized local olive oil. Two 17th century chapels deserve a glance. One is now a private house, the other hosts summer jazz concerts.
Le Beausset Holidays, France This inland ‘station verte’ is a typical Provençal farming village in the Sainte-Baume foothills. The 12th-century chapel of Notre Dame du Beausset Vieux marks the site of the original hill village. The basalt altar inside once served as a millstone in an olive press, and the 16th-century ‘santons’ (nativity figurines) are fine examples of a local craft. The tower gives a wonderful panorama over La Ciotat Bay.
Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer Holidays, France The part of St-Cyr that is truly ‘sur mer’ is the adjoining resort of Les Lecques, with its safe sandy beach and a large water park. Behind lies an older settlement cloaked in Bandol vines. The Tauroentum Museum displays finds unearthed from two Roman villas, while the Centre d’Art Sébastien houses a collection of paintings and sculptures by a friend of Picasso. The coastal path to Bandol passes idyllic picnic spots and swimming coves.
Sanary-sur-Mer Holidays, France The pink-and-white houses and palm trees along Sanary-sur-Mer’s waterfront make a postcard scene, dominated by the tall belfry of Saint-Nazaire church. The medieval tower by the port contains a diving museum devoted to the pioneering experiments of Jacques Cousteau and his team. During the 1930s, Sanary gave sanctuary to a number of prominent writers fleeing Nazi Germany, including Thomas Mann, Berthold Brecht and Arthur Koestler.
Six-Fours-les-Plages Holidays, France No one knows quite where the original ‘six ovens’ were, because this little resort was relocated during the 19th century to make room for a hilltop fort. Its shingle beaches, exposed to Cap Sicié’s westerly gales, are popular with surfers. The 12th-century Romanesque church of Saint Pierre contains medieval works of art. Inland lies Notre Dame de la Pépiole, a charming ancient chapel hidden among pines and olives.
