Les Ammonites

Les Ammonites enjoys a perched hill-side location in a residential area set back around 1.5km from the town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer in the fabulous Côte d’Azur, south-eastern France.

Surrounded by wooded hills between St Tropez and Le Lavandou on the southern bay of the Var French Riviera and with a Famille Plus designation, the town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer is particularly welcoming to holiday makers and families with the same iconic palms, pine trees and sparkling azure sea of its glitzier neighbours as well as plenty of amenities including a bakery, supermarkets, cinema, bars and restaurants.

The 3km stretch of sand is a paradise for visitors with the wild Cap Lardier headland in the distance and the Îles d'Or shimmering offshore in the sparkling blue sea. The quality of the water at these beaches is particularly good for swimming, there is a designated bathing bay and a free summer shuttle bus runs parallel to the beach so it is easy to find those quieter spots.

There are so many maritime activities to be enjoyed in Cavalaire-sur-Mer - you can canoe, snorkel, sail, windsurf, jet ski and there’s also deep sea fishing and diving. Take the ferry to the lovely islands of Îles d'Or - Porquerolles is a sanctuary from the bustling mainland with its meandering footpaths, vineyards, castles and monastery.

Further along the coast heading east, around a 15-minute drive away, Gigaro is a very family orientated beach with restaurants and watersports. The wilder Plage d’Héraclée is a lovely spot for watching the sun rise and, if you are feeling adventurous, walk to Brouis Beach, a tranquil haven surrounded by unspoilt nature. Take a walk along the Fenouillet coastal footpath which leads through a nature reserve to Cap Carnarat or follow the wine trail and sample a glass of rosé in the small seaside resort of La Croix-Valmer (7km), situated at the foot of the pine covered Maures Massif.

For a change of scene, sophisticated and wealthy St Tropez (19km) has fine restaurants, boutiques, pretty painted fishermen’s cottages and a port where fishing boats are moored alongside luxurious yachts. Just south of the town, spend the day at the famous Pampelonne Beach with its glamourous beach clubs and a great range of watersports.   

Le Lavandou (22km) is another popular seaside resort with a yacht marina where you can watch the fishing boats bring in their catch. For a grand day out, the city of Toulon (60km) is a naval base with a maritime museum and a picturesque backdrop of limestone mountains - a cable car will shuttle you up Mont Faro.

For a quieter inland experience, visit Bormes-les-Mimosas (25km), a delightfully peaceful hillside village with stone walled houses and cascades of colourful flowers. Other idyllic villages close to Saint Tropez include medieval Grimaud, Gassin and Ramatuelle, all worthy of a picturesque lunch out with amazing views. Look out for La Môle, about half an hour by car, which has some wonderful walking trails through beautiful countryside.

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