Saint Raphael is in a picturesque location on the coast of Fréjus Bay, where the western spurs of the Esterel massif approach the sea. Two islets, the Sea Lion and the Earth Lion, stand guard over Saint Raphael. All around the bay are seaside resorts such as Valecourt, Bouloury, Antheor, and Trey. They form a beautiful color palette of cliffs clinging to the blue of the sea.
In the distant past, Saint Raphael, as well as the entire coast of the Gulf, belonged to Rome. It was a Gallo-Roman village, terraced, with thermal baths and a vivarium. The houses were decorated with mosaics. Then it was conquered and ravaged by the Saracens, who were driven out of the area in the 10th century.
The Count, ruler of Provence, gave his possessions to the monks of the Brotherhood of Lerins and the monastery of Saint Victor of Marseilles. They founded the settlement, whose protection was entrusted to the Knights of the Knights Templar.
On October 9, 1799, Bonaparte’s troops landed at Saint Raphael. He and his marshals were returning victorious from the Egyptian campaign. In 1814, Napoleon would again find himself in Saint Raphael. This time he would be accompanied by Austrian and British generals into exile.
Alphonse Carr (1808-1890), captivated by the beauty of the city, discovered it for his many friends — artists, writers, musicians. Here you can see the Church of the Templars, built in the 12th century in the style of Romanesque-Provençal architecture. The aisle of this church was rebuilt as a watchtower of a square shape. It sheltered the inhabitants of the village during the attacks of the pirates. The Museum of Archaeology has a collection of amphorae found during the excavations of Roman buildings. Like any seaside resort, Saint Raphael faces the sea. There is a marina and a water amusement station, which is considered one of the best on the coast of the Var.
