What to do on vacation
in the Var

Enjoy the beach, of course… but in exceptional locations!

It’s impossible to think of “Holidays in the Var” without hearing, impulsively, cicadas and chirps, songs and fountains, waves and lapping water… Without the unexpected scent of lavender, the aroma of markets… This “land of fire where sky and sea merge” (A. Hannecart) promises holidaymakers of all ages a veritable feast. On the menu: beach, warmth and good spirits! Because in the Var, after the rain, there’s always good weather!

How would you like to explore the coastline? Its coves and points? Its sea of oil, where time seems to stand still? Put on your swimsuits and board immediately for Var’s small, family-friendly seaside resorts.

If Saint-Tropez, in the gulf of the same name, is emblematic for its wild coves (out of season) and beaches set against a backdrop of turquoise waters, it is, along with Ramatuelle, the chic resort par excellence. If you prefer a small family resort atmosphere, head for La Londe-les-Maures, an ideal springboard for the Golden Isles: Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant. Other charming little resorts include Port-Grimaud, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Sanary-sur-Mer, Saint-Agulf, Trayas and Carqueiranne.

Did you know? The Var has a real gem on its coast: Gassin. Less than 4 km from the sea, this “Most Beautiful Village in France” is a must-see. Perched on a rocky outcrop 200 m above sea level, it offers extraordinary panoramic views of the famous Saint-Tropez peninsula.

Here are a few classics from the “Turquoise Waters/Dream Beach” duo for sunbathing or relaxing:

• Port-Cros National Park;
• Porquerolles and its Plage Notre Dame voted “Most beautiful beach in Europe” in 2015 by European Best Destinations;
• Giens peninsula: Almanarre, la Capte, la Madrague, Robinson ;
• le Lavandou: Saint-Clair beach coastal path ;
• Bormes-les-Mimosas: Cabasson and Estagnol beaches;
• Ramatuelle: l’Escalet, Tahiti…

Take a seat on the terrace of a charming village and discover its remarkable sites.

If, in the Var, “Le ciel, le soleil et la mer” (the sky, the sun and the sea) invite you, as in the song, to lie on the beach “with your nose in the sand”, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy with family and friends!

What would you say, for example, to discovering its small, authentic villages? The generous 83 department boasts 4 of France’s Most Beautiful Villages (Bargème, Gassin, Seillans and Tourtour), 14 Villages de Caractère and 80 Remarkable Places! Not to mention its nature parks (Port-Cros, Verdon, Sainte-Baume, Plaine des Maures…) and sunshine 300 days a year!

What better idea than to dine in one of these exceptional places with a distinct personality? The Villages de Caractère tourist circuit is an ideal option to satisfy both eyes and stomach. On the “Discovery Menu”: small perched towns, sublime panoramas, gorges and cliffs, waterfalls and troglodytic caves, castles and churches, glazed-tile bell towers, old winding lanes, vaulted passageways, washhouses and fountains, shady squares… The 14 stages of this tour between Bergème and La Cadière d’Azur are as tasty as nougat, but three villages in particular are not to be missed: Aups, Collobrières and Cotignac.

On the table: aïoli, anchoïade, barigoule, bouillabaisse, bourride, crespéou, daube provençale, fougasse, poutargue, soupe au pistou, tian… Not forgetting, for those with a sweet tooth, the desserts: brassadeau, chichis, croquants aux amandes, navettes provençales, oreillettes, pain-coing, patiences fraxinoises, pignolat de Nostradamus, pompe à l’huile, tarte abricot, tropézienne… All accompanied, of course, by a good local wine: AOP Vin de Pays du Var, AOC Bandol, Côtes de Provence or Côteaux Varois…

Book your stay in an Azureva vacation village or residence in the Var now and get up close to all these wonders.