Ramatuelle - Saint-Tropez Tourisme

Ramatuelle

From the ancient village to the hidden coves

Discover Ramatuelle, an unspoilt gem nestled on a hillside amidst stunning scenery. The village overlooks a landscape of vineyards that slopes gently down to the legendary Pampelonne beach. To the south, pine forests line rugged headlands of striking beauty, completing the perfect picture of this corner of Provence on the Côte d’Azur.

Ramatuelle is, first and foremost, a charming village that overlooks, from its gentle hill, a landscape characterised by its bountiful and unspoilt natural beauty. The old town’s unique spiral layout seems to have shielded it from all the turmoil of the outside world. The charming, winding alleyways, stairways and cobbled streets are adorned with jasmine, bougainvillea and honeysuckle. The Provençal market brings the Place de l’Ormeau to life on Thursdays and Sundays, offering an authentic atmosphere. Down in the plains, wine-growing dominates, and the town is home to around ten producers of Rosé de Provence, whose vines thrive under the southern sun.

And by the sea lies Pampelonne Beach, with its 4.5 kilometres of fine sand stretching in a single stretch. Festive in summer with its beach establishments, magnificent and wild in winter, it offers an extraordinary landscape all year round. Smaller and more family-friendly, Escalet Beach is nestled between the sea and the hills. As the starting point of the famous coastal path towards Cap Taillat – a natural area protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral – it charms visitors with its unspoilt character. To preserve this exceptional site and enjoy it to the full, we recommend visiting it out of season. The town is fringed by hundreds of small coves, accessible only on foot, and is also home to the majestic Camarat lighthouse, which has been open to visitors during the season since 2025 (by booking).

Ramatuelle is also a hub of culture. For the past 40 years, it has hosted the Ramatuelle Festival, which welcomes the most talented artists every year, as well as an internationally renowned jazz festival. More recently, the Reconnexion Festival has complemented this programme by showcasing young local talent and celebrating their connection to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

PANORAMIC VIEWS

• Paillas Mill, restored in 2002 based on 16th-century plans. Panoramic view (325 m above sea level) of Cavalaire/La Croix Valmer Bay on one side, and Pampelonne and the village on the other.

• Col de Collebasse trail: a forest track winding through oak and umbrella pine trees.

• Town hall esplanade: overlooks the village and the entire Ramatuelle plain as far as Camarat Lighthouse. Here you’ll also find an open-air photography exhibition, updated annually, showcasing the town’s heritage, landscapes and key events.

• Orientation board in the village: views over the plain, the Estérel mountains and the Southern Pre-Alps, which are snow-capped in winter.

• Lighthouse road: a bird’s-eye view of Pampelonne Bay.

HISTORY

Ramatuelle is an area that has been inhabited since prehistoric times: this is evidenced by the flint tools, polished axes and pottery shards found by archaeologists. The origin of the name ‘Ramatuelle’ is unclear; some believe it may be of Arabic origin. The village was first mentioned in the 11th century in a charter from the Abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille. It has retained its medieval layout and walls. In the Middle Ages, the parish church, then known as Notre-Dame du Pin, stood roughly where the town hall is today. The present church was built at the end of the 16th century against the town wall. A 14th-century watchtower was used as the bell tower. On 15 August 1944, Pampelonne Beach was the scene of the Allied landings in Provence.

MUST-SEES

• In the village, the church (with its serpentine arch door…), the manor house (in the village centre) with its bronze door knocker and wooden fireplace, the old semi-circular arched doors, the remains of the fortifications, the gate known as the ‘Saracen Gate’ (with the portcullis track and marks from the hinges), walks through the narrow streets (door and window frames, some dating back to the 15th century), Rue du Clocher: former prisons dating from the time of Napoleon III (a white, roofless building with rounded features).

• On the plain: 750 hectares of vineyards and their estates.

• Along the coast: Pampelonne Bay, its greenway and coastal path; Escalet Beach; Camarat Lighthouse; the coastal path, with its rugged headlands and exceptional panoramic views.