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Check out
www.varvillagevoice.com
which provides much useful information on the region.
Shopping: There is a big Geant supermarket en route to St Tropez to stock up. (You can't miss it!). There is also the Le Clerc supermarket in Cogolin and do not miss the local village market days in the area (Details of which are available in the house).
Wine: The local co-operatives in Grimaud and Cogolin both have an excellent selection of local wine. There are several five-litre containers in the house you may use to fill up with wine - but these are available cheaply from the co-op if you forget /need more (!)
Travelling to St Tropez: Although both roads and parking are good in St Tropez, highly recommended is catching the boat
Navettes Maritimes from across the bay at St Maxime quay. (Particularly on market day as it can get busy!) The trip offers a beautiful view of the whole of the bay and the other boats, some of which must be seen to be believed! There are also tours of the coast available from the Quay, fishing tours and excursions to the stunning national parks of Port Cros and Cape Lardier!
Abbey du Thoronet: Is just off the A8 before the turn off to the village. It is a beautiful old restored monastery with is breathtaking in its simplicity and has wonderful acoustics! Lovely gardens too!
Walking: The area is excellent for walking throughout the year.
In October there is also the "Semaine Varoise de la Randonnee Pedestre".
For more information on all walks check out the Var Tourism website at
www.tourismevar.com under the heading "pleine
nature". You might also wish to view "Balades accompagnees" and "Randonnee
Pedestre". Friends recommend the 4 hour walk to the Monastries of
Chatreuse de la Vierne at Collobrieres. Stunning!
Cycling: The French love cycling and many cyclists can be
seen on the beautiful and testing mountain roads and tracks. The house has
a secure gates lobby to stow your bikes. There are many specialist cycling
shops in the region including: Cogolin, Port Grimaud, Ste Maximu and St Tropez.
The Geant supermarket at La Foux (on the road to St Tropez) also carries cycle
accessories and tyres. It is possible to rent bikes from stores at some
SNCF railway stations. There are interesting cycle tours on
www.discoverfrance.com/regions/provence_biking.
Beaches: They are all good! Pampelone is the most famous but we found the beaches around Cavaliere sur Mer to be the nicest! Also offers good snorkelling opportunities - as to any of the coves on the coast road towards Cannes from St Maxime.
Gorge du Verdon: Takes about 1 ½ hours to get there but is breathtaking! The roads once there are not for the faint hearted. You can hire boats, kayaks and canoes in the Gorge.
Monte Carlo and
Cap Ferrat : Monaco is a two-hour drive and boats can be taken from Nice. Visit the www.trans-cote-azur.com or www.sncm.fr for further details. Both run ferries along the Mediterranean Coast and to Corsica. (Tip: Take a picnic, it's not cheap!)
Golfing: There are numerous golf courses in the area but as I don't do golf I won't attempt to recommend any. Suggested are the websites www.3dgolf.com or
http://www.pmfgolfguide.com/france/cote-d'azur/index.htm.
Nice and Cap Ferrat are well worth a visit. Walk along the famous
Promenade des Anglais and meander through the alleys of Nice. Cap Ferrat
is just as lovely as you hoped it might be. | 
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