Made up of the Rayol and Canadel communes, this area near to Cavalaire-sur-Mer is bursting with luxurious plant-life. The area overlooks a wild and rugged coastline, and marks the start of the Maures Mountains.

Lush wild and untouched landscape


The excursion starts by following a panoramic path that traces the coastline above the sea around St. Aygulf at Bormes-les-Mimosas. Walking past oak trees, aloe plants and mimosas, we get a bird’s eye view of the fine sands and colourful, rough and jagged rocks that are characteristic of the seashore in the Var region. The chestnut trees of the Maures Mountains only add to the untamed and unspoilt feel of some of the oldest landscapes that Provence has to offer.

A listed monument


Clinging on to the incline of a 500m-high ridge, Rayol-Canadel became a seaside resort in the early 20th century. In 1925-1930, a monumental staircase was erected to link the beach to the hill. Nowadays, it is registered as a regional heritage site. The staircase is topped by a roundhouse and pergola and stretches the length of the incline giving the commune its unique appearance.

A walking circuit



From departmental road 559 in the direction of Cavalaire, we step on to the monumental staircase to start a circular walk on a non-way marked path that leads to the pergola. The walk goes around the town and along cliff ledges - covering a distance of 7km at least, and lasts roughly 2 hours.

Journey through Mediterranean and Subtropical vegetation in the middle of the Var

Owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral, the Domain du Rayol is a 20 ha protected natural space containing over 1200 species of plant-life from around the world. Here, Mexican cacti mix with Asian bamboos, as well as other plants from Chile, South Africa, USA, and Australia, for example. This Mediterranean garden was created by gardener, Gilles Clément, and includes a botanical garden and marine garden. It is open all year round for unguided or 1.5 hour guided tours – truly a journey for the senses into the essences.

>> Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer

>> Le Domaine du Rayol

Valérie Pellegrini