Cidades de L'Esterel: Saint-Raphaël e Fréjus

Saint-Raphaël e Fréjus começaram como duas cidades vizinhas, mas ao longo dos séculos se fundiram a tal ponto que é difícil saber onde uma termina e a outra começa. Agora, são essencialmente uma única grande cidade.

Saint-Raphael

Saint-Raphaël is a family-friendly holiday resort town located on the French Riviera midway between Saint-Tropez e CannesSeu auge ocorreu no final do século XIX, quando belas mansões da Belle Époque foram construídas ao longo de sua orla com vista para o Mediterrâneo. Infelizmente, durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, todos os edifícios medievais (exceto uma igreja) foram destruídos por bombas.

Embora Saint-Raphaël não esteja repleta de atrações turísticas imperdíveis, é um dos resorts mais discretos, charmosos e acolhedores da Côte d'Azur. Você pode facilmente passar um dia tranquilo aqui. Há algumas praias encantadoras a uma curta distância do centro da cidade e uma excelente seleção de cafés e restaurantes elegantes.

First impressions for many visitors are the beautiful Belle Époque buildings which overlook the promenade. These were destroyed during the Second World War and have been rebuilt in their original style. Just inland from the harbor stands the Basilique Notre Dame de la Victoire, which dominates the skyline of Saint Raphaël. Dating back to 1887 this beautiful church is the town’s main architectural and religious attraction.

There is a small Old Town which is home to a number of interesting attractions and is well worth wandering around. It is located around the medieval Eglise Sant Raféu , which houses the Musée Archéologique de Saint-Raphaël. This museum has some impressive artifacts discovered in the region –some of which date back to prehistoric times– together with an underwater archaeology section. Visitors can climb to the top of its tower to get great views over the port.

If you’d prefer to spend a few hours relaxing in the sun, there are some lovely beaches within easy walking distance of Le Vieux Port. The nearest ones are Plage du Frejus to the west and Plage du Veillat  para o sudeste.

Fréjus

Fréjus Foi a primeira base naval romana no Mediterrâneo, uma cidade próspera, repleta de emoções e histórias. Hoje, é uma cidade de arte, história e cultura. Fréjus preservou diversos monumentos do seu passado. A cidade possui um importante patrimônio histórico e arquitetônico, com muitos vestígios romanos.

The magnificent Fréjus Cathedral is a national monument with a history dating back as far as the 5th century. There’s also a Roman aqueduct in the town center. The baptistery, which dates from the 5th century, is one of the oldest in France. In the cloister, the archaeological museum contains objects excavated in Fréjus.

Port Fréjus marina and the fine sand beach at the end of Fréjus Beach make the town a popular seaside resort. All nautical pleasures are available in Fréjus (bathing in sea water, fishing, coastal shipping in the coves, scuba diving, water skiing, surfing windsurfing, kayaking, kitesurfing, sailing…), without forgetting the Provencal getaways, walks in the picturesque narrow streets, gourmet indulgences (truffle, honey, olive oil, wine “and Castles of Fréjus” AOC Fréjus).

Charles Lenthéric, a prolific writer on the ancient monuments of France, visited the Fréjus area in the latter half of the nineteenth century. He almost believed he was in Italy, as his The Riviera Ancient and Modern (1895) testifies: “The whole effect of this southern landscape [in Fréjus] is much more Italian in the classical sense of the word than are many celebrated sites in Italy itself. The character of the land is the same, the sky is the same, the general air of sadness is the same as on the banks of the Tiber, and the Roman ruins scattered all around render the resemblance still more striking.”

In the evening, the many bars on the seaside promenade offer you a delicious glass of house wine and fresh fried chips without making much of a dent in your pockets, while the nearby souvenir shops distract the shopaholic in you. You’ll be stopped by random locals who will strike up a conversation. It’s a slow life in Frejus and St Raphaël, but a content one.

Wondering how to get to Frejus and Saint Raphael? Confira nosso guia: Como chegar à área de Esterel.