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General Notes by Phil LaBerge
Just a word to the wise. Many
who come expecting to see everything on one trip spend much of
their time driving. Cavalaire's true beauty, in my
opinion, is that it is located in a spectacularly scenic area bounded by the bay of Cavalaire looking out from
the patio, the Cap L'Escalet off in the distance, and the Massif
des Maures hills running along the coast just behind the
apartment. (Look at the
photos to get an idea.) Must do's in my opinion are:
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Sit on the beach. Cavalaire has beautiful white sandy beaches and a great beach
scene. If laying on the beach is not your thing, sit in
the Wapiti cafe on the beach at the bottom of the hill and have
a beverage. |
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Explore the small towns nearby.
Have lunch on the terrace in Gassin looking out over the valley
towards St. Tropez. Take the windy little road from Gassin
to the Moulin de Paillas windmill on the way to Ramatuelle.
It is one of my favorite drives with beautiful views. Walk through the medieval village of Ramatuelle
(don't miss entering the old city near the circle).
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Hike. This area has some
great hiking. 1) Drive up to the circle in La Croix
and veer of on the D93 towards Ramatuelle. Note some of
the villas of the rich & famous along the way. About
2/3rds of the way you will come to a hard turn with a Col de
Collebasse sign. Drive up the street and park at the gate.
Hike up the hill about 1/2 mile to spectacular views. 2)
Drive up Ave L'eau Blanche about half way and you will a street
to the right with a sign to Les Terraces. Follow the
switch back road (always going up) to the Les Terraces and
parking across the street at the entrance to the trail.
Hike up the switch back road about 1 mile to the fire trail that
runs along the ridge line. Turn left to head towards
Cavalaire and the split where you can see out towards La Mole.
3) Drive to Gigaro, park, and catch the trail head at the end of
the beach. The trail meanders along the jagged coast with
beautiful views out over the water. |
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Watch. Don't miss the
locals playing petanque at the main square in Cavalaire.
Find a bench and take in the action. |
Like my Smithsonian analogy,
Cavaliare offers an opportunity for a lifetime of learning and
exploration of the French country, culture and language.
So don't plan on doing it all in one trip.
You are welcome to come back.
Bonnes Vacances & Rentre
Souvent! |
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