Eurostar to Saint-Raphael

If you're looking for a holiday destination with history, culture, beaches, and gorgeous scenery, try a trip to Saint-Raphaël deep in the centre of Provence in France. Saint-Raphaël is a stunning town on the coast, only sixty kilometres away from Nice, between Saint-Tropez and Cannes. This marina town is surrounded by both beaches or mountains, so it's a beautiful destination. Saint-Raphaël is one of the connection services available on the Eurostar, so it's never been easier to get to.

About Saint-Raphael

It's also a famous town in history, as it was the main point of landings in Provence during the Second World War. As you arrive, take a stroll to the Old Port and immerse yourself fully in the picturesque setting. You can get to know the area just by wandering along the Frejus bay, taking in the gorgeous Belle Epoque architecture and long beaches.

And there are plenty to choose from! There are thirty different beaches along this particular strip of coastline, each different from the last. The terrains vary from smooth to rocky, open to sheltered, so whatever your perfect beach looks like, you're bound to find a match in Saint-Raphaël. Having such a diverse coastline has made the waters ideal for exploration, and many visitors to Saint-Raphaël find time to go sailing or deep-sea diving.

The mountainous backdrop of Saint-Raphaël is also worthy of exploration. The gorgeous Massif de l'Esterel is an imposing and beautiful presence over the town. There are a number of outings to choose from to explore the rocky terrain covering an impressive thirty-two thousand hectare site, including mountain bike tours, rambling, or horse riding. So beautiful, they were the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1920 book Tender is the Night.

Summers in Saint-Raphaël are warm and pleasant, and it's the perfect destination if you are a beach lover. Between May and September, there are a number of sailing regattas, which are traditional to Provencal life. However, it's also an incredible place to visit during the winter months. Every February, the Viva Mimosa festival takes place. It is the celebration of the flowering of the yellow-blossomed Provencal shrub, and the streets of Saint-Raphaël are filled with markets, shows, exhibitions, and walks around the surrounding areas.

Saint-Raphael by Eurostar Trains

Traveling to Saint-Raphael by train is very easy. You can get to Saint-Raphaël on one of the Eurostar's connection services. This means you'll have to change trains at some point. Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras International, a very easy-to-get-to destination in London. Your simplest option of connection services after getting on the train at London is to change at Lille, where you need only change platforms to get onto a TGV service. You can also change at Paris Gare du Nord, but you'll have to make your way to Gare de Lyon. Once you are at Gare de Lyon, there are a number of TGV services going directly to Saint-Raphaël. Sleeper trains are available for this journey. All in all, if you travel from London, you can expect the journey time to be about eight hours.

Visit the official Eurostar web site to book your train tickets to Saint-Raphael.