Experience the best of Cogolin

Cogolin sits at the foot of the Massif des Maures, a range of forested hills of cork oak and pine that runs down to the Mediterranean. Two crafts have shaped the town: pipe making from the root of the briar, and the knotting of wool carpets by hand.

The Gulf of Saint-Tropez lies a short drive to the south-east, with its beaches, marinas and the old fishing village of Saint-Tropez. Grimaud, a hilltop village beneath the ruins of a medieval castle, is close by, and Port Grimaud is a canal-side marina village built on the lagoon.

Provençal food is the local choice: daube, a slow beef and wine stew, tapenade made from olives, and fresh fish from the gulf. Rosé from the Côtes de Provence vineyards is the everyday wine. The mistral can blow hard in winter and spring, and the coast is hot and busy in summer. Late spring and early autumn suit visitors best.