St Raphaël Property Listings and Info

For buying and selling property in St Raphaël

French Riviera - but busy and buzzy all year round

Unlike many French coastal towns, which seem to fall asleep in the winter months, St Raphaël is lively all year round, with many of the attractions and facilities remaining open throughout the off season months. This is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it. But if you are looking for a sleepy bolt hole then perhaps you would be mistaken in considering St Raphaël. If, however, your idea of heaven is a busy, buzzy and very attractive seaside town with lots going on and some of the best beaches in the Med, then come on in, the water's lovely!

A town of restaurants

If you enjoy eating out then the plethora of restaurants which await you in St Raphaël will be a delightful surprise. Stretched all along the sea front, and dotted throughout the town, there is something here to suit all tastes and pockets. The most expensive and not necessarily the best, are on the sea front. So if you are on a budget and wishing to make your money stretch a little further, try looking in the side streets, a little off the more obvious tourist trails. It goes without saying that the seafood is particularly good.

All year round fun

St Raphaël is a town for all seasons, and there is always something to do. The night life is lively and varied, with bars, discos and clubs ever present. The town has some excellent, safe, sandy beaches, making them ideal for families with young children. There is plenty of fun and games for the children away from the water too, with play parks and carousels. Golfers, (who can never bear to leave their sport behind when travelling) can get their fix at an excellent course right on the doorstep!

Nearby Fréjus

Water sports enthusiasts can access the best the French Riviera has to offer at Fréjus, just along the coast from St Raphaël, where the water is a little deeper. Try your hand at jet skiing, windsurfing, water skiing or scuba diving, with instruction available if you are a débutante!

St Raphaël's culture

St Raphaël has its share of cultural activities, and you can spend an interesting time at the Marine Archaeological Museum. There is also a 12th century church, which is said to have links to the mysterious Knights Templar. The region around St Raphaël is full of possibilities, and you can easily access famous places such as Saint Tropez and Aix-en-Provence.

Popular with the literati

St Raphaël has long been popular not just with the wealthier tourists in society, but also with the great and good of French literature. Alphonse Kerr, one time editor of Le Figaro, is credited with setting off this trend. It is known that Guy de Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas and Gunoud frequented the town, and Françoise Sagan famously set her novel "Bonjour Tristesse" here.

How to get there

To get to St Raphaël from the UK you can fly to Nice, which is served by a good selection of airlines including British Airways, easyJet, bmibaby, bmi, Aer Lingus, Jet2, flybe and Air France. Toulon, served by Ryanair, is also within reach. Rail travel can get you to the town itself. Take Eurostar to Paris or Lille, link to a TGV for Montpellier or Marseille, and link to local trains for St Raphaël. Meanwhile driving is a long but enjoyable process, ending up on the A8 auto route from which St Raphaël is signed.

Property prices and availability in and around St Raphaël

St Raphaël occupies a prime piece of French territory, so don't expect property here to come cheap! It isn't the place to look if you are working on a shoestring budget, but if you want a prime location, on the best stretch of the Med with plenty of life and entertainment, then St Raphaël could push the right buttons. Lookout for apartments on the outer edges of town, which offer better value than those with a sea view... unless, of course, money is no object.

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St Raphaël AT A GLANCE

WHERE IS St Raphaël?

St Raphaël is located in the south-east of France, on the Côte-d'Azur part of the Mediterranean coast. It lies in the east of the Var department.

St Raphaël Property Map

IN THE REGION OF PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Guide

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Property Map

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VAR

Var Guide

Var Map

Population: 30,500

Access: By air: Fly to Toulon or Nice. By rail: The town has a station making rail travel straightforward. By road: The A8 auto route will take you to St Raphaël.

Economy: The predominant industry is tourism.

Interesting fact: The Romans set the precedent for building exclusive and expensive villas on St Raphaël's sea front!

AGENTS WITH PROPERTY FOR SALE IN St Raphaël

Sextant France
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