Camping de l'Éléphant

One of the closest beaches to the site is Fournas, a fine place for rockpooling five minutes’ drive away, and stretches of sand are to be visited around Saint-Raphaël (10 minutes). This seaside resort is dominated by the 19th-century Notre Dame de la Victorie Basilica, a religious monument made out of sandstone, and is also home to Bonaparte Garden with its views out over the bay. To get down by the water after admiring it, head to Débarquement Beach, named after the Allied landings in World War II, which looks out towards the Île d'Or island, or catch a ferry from Saint-Raphaël towards the glitzy French Riviera towns of Cannes and Saint-Tropez and see how the other half lives. Both spots have sandy beaches and yacht-lined harbours to stroll along, as well as plenty of cocktail bars and restaurants serving classic French fodder. Away from the coast – and the jet-set – the Estérel Massif is a hub for hikers. Head here for roams through protected oak forests and above deep ravines with soul-stirring views.