Ideally situated next to Fréjus, this attractive seaside town has a long history dating back to Roman times when the wealthy citizenry of Fréjus built their holiday villas here.

During the early middle ages, the settlement was plundered by raiding Saracens until the Count of Provence sent them packing. He gave the land to the monks from nearby Lérins who built a church and village which form the basis of what we see today.

Napoleon landed here in 1799 following his successes in Egypt and, by a remarkable twist of fate, departed from in 1814 here on his way to Elba following his defeat at Waterloo!

During the second half of the 19th century Saint-Raphaël resumed its status as a resort once more due to journalist Alphonse Karr who bought a house here and was soon followed by Dumas, Maupassant, Berlioz and Gounod among others. Later in 1934, F.Scott Fitzgerald, inspired by the glamour of the Riviera, wrote 'Tender is the Night' here.