Massif de l'Esterel

Visit Massif de l'Esterel, Provence

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.

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

Tourist classifications for Massif de l'Esterel: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Photos of Massif de l'Esterel

Click any picture to start the gallery

Suggested places to visit near Massif de l'Esterel, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Theoule-sur-Mer 10km; Bagnols-en-Foret 10km; Mandelieu-la-Napoule 11km; Montauroux 14km; Callian 15km; Tourrettes 17km; Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne 17km; Cannes 17km; Fayence 17km; Roquebrune-sur-Argens 17km; Mougins 18km;

Massif de l'Esterel tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (9km) : Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument (10km) : Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (10km) : Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (11km) : Abbaye de Lerins (Cannes) - religious monument (17km) : Grottes de Saint-Cezaire - site of natural beauty (18km) : Jardin de la Villa Fort de France - remarkable garden (20km) : Jardin botanique de la villa Thuret - remarkable garden (26km) :

See more places and a map at places near Massif de l'Esterel