Chat and dating in the Var, from the gulf to the villages

Saint-Tropez, harbour and lanes

Saint-Tropez is above all a harbour of regulars, from fishermen to yachts, then ochre façades lining small quiet squares. People meet in La Ponche, the historic fishermen’s quarter, far from the summer bustle. Place aux Herbes and its market, the terraces of Quai Jean-Jaurès, the Annonciade and its pointillist canvases: a thousand Tropezian ways to stretch out a coffee.

Gassin, Ramatuelle and Grimaud

Listed among the most beautiful villages of France, Gassin and Ramatuelle watch over the gulf from their hills. Cobbled lanes, olive-shaded terraces and tables under a vine arbor invite you to slow down. Grimaud, crowned by the ruins of its castle, offers a superb view of the bay. Port Grimaud, the Provençal little Venice, is best explored by electric boat, canal by canal.

Vineyards and Pampelonne beach

The surrounding hillsides produce great Provence rosés. A winery visit, glass in hand, often ends with a walk down to Pampelonne beach. Long pine-fringed dunes, timber cabanons and the sound of waves do the rest. On Lyad, locals share their secret addresses around the gulf; it is up to you to choose someone to push the door open with.