Ramatuelle

Ramatuelle Information

Ramatuelle is the beautiful provencale village in the Var 83 next to Saint Tropez. It is famous for its beautiful Pampelonne Ramatuelle and Escalt beaches as well as its beautiful hilltop village of Ramatuelle built in almost arabian style. Ramatuelle covers the top of the hill and its pleasant narrow streets meander around the town in a circular pattern. Near the top is the Place Gabriel Peri, formerly called ‘Castle Square’ for the seigniorial home of the Seigneurs of Audibert.
Ramatuelle is known for the fantastic restataurants by Michelin including the La Réserve Ramatuelle, La Forge, La Terrace, L'Écurie du Castellas, and Chez Camille, La Pinède-Plage, Les Bouis, and the Auberge la Verdoyante. Ferme Ladouceur puts on special menus for 40€ with unlimited wine. Ramatuelle expects 30'000 visitors to her beaches every summer, and obviously there are places to stay. There are a good quality of campsites in Ramatuelle especially the Tournelles, and Toisson D'Or. Kon Tiki Ramatuelle has become famous for its luxury cabines rented per week.
Summer is filled at the Ramatuelle amphitheater: its theater festival in July or, in August, its famous festival du Jazz, when artists from around the world perform during the four-day festival. We were there six years ago when Dee Dee Bridgewater gave a sparkling performance ending in a hilarious pillow fight.

History of Ramatuelle

Ramatuelle's history dates back to at least the early Middle Ages. It is believed that its name comes from the Arab word Rahmatu'llah, which means divine providence. This links the village to the 8th and 9th century when the Saracens, with particular providence, terrorized the region.
In the 16th Century Ramatuelle was destroyed and rebuilt early in the 17th Century. There is a strong sense of history about Ramatuelle and there are a number of beautiful churches, memorials, a lighthouse and houses to visit.

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Ramatuelle

Club 55 on Pampelonne Beach
Escalet Beach in Ramatuelle
Ramatuelle Jazz Festival
Light House at Cap Cammerat then jumping off cliffs into the water
Fin at the Voile Rouge on Pampelonne Beach

Weather in Ramatuelle

Directions to and From Ramatuelle

Ramatuelle is very easy to get to by air, sea, or by car. Airport of choice would be Nice Cote D'Azur, but Hyeres airport would also be ok. From Nice Airport or if in fact you are coming into the Cote D'Azur by car you will take the A8 to Le Muy Turn-off. On this new modern road you will drive down the D25 all the way to Sainte Maxime. There are also possibilities to come off at Saint Raphael save on the tolls and drive in along the coast on the D1098.
Ramatuelle to Saint Tropez is an easy route along the Route des Plages, as is Escalet and the Croix Valmer. There is no train station in Ramatuelle, nor does it seem a bus/coach station however there are limited buses to St Raphael, where there are boats and trains to Nice.

Beaches in Ramatuelle

Pampelonne Beach is a 6km white sandy beach that stretches from Bonne Terrace to Tahiti Beach. There are 21 private beach clubs and restaurants with beach beds, an assortement of menus and drinks, cocktails, live bands, and DJs. Luxury Yacht Charters arrive at pampelonne beach and are shuttled to and from the most famous beach clubs by boat or in some cases by helicopter. Nudist Beaches started in Ramatuelle, apparently, and it is now chic here to take off your clothes and sun bathe in the nude. Obviously the major beach clubs have rules about nudity, but there are many public beaches that are nudist in Ramatuelle.

A more naturel beach in Ramatuelle would be at Escalet where there are no restaurants, and the water is very clear and non poluted. Escalet is often frequented by nudists.