Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer
| Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer | |
|---|---|
  Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer | |
|
Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region  Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer | |
| Coordinates: 43°09′34″N 6°27′45″E / 43.1594°N 6.4625°ECoordinates: 43°09′34″N 6°27′45″E / 43.1594°N 6.4625°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Department | Var |
| Arrondissement | Draguignan |
| Canton | Saint-Tropez |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2001–2008) | Anne-Marie Coumarianos |
| Area | |
| • Land1 | 6.83 km2 (2.64 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Population2 | 587 |
| • Population2 Density | 86/km2 (220/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 83152 / 83820 |
| Elevation |
0–494 m (0–1,621 ft) (avg. 70 m or 230 ft) |
|
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It comprises two small villages: Le Rayol and Canadel. They are situated along the D559 which goes along the coast at an average distance of approximately 200 metres from the sea. Rayol-Canadel-Sur-Mer is in between Cavaliere and Cavalaire-sur-mer. There are villas above and below the road on the hillside facing the sea and there is a view of L'Ile du Levant and L'Ile de Port-Cros.
Beaches
It has one beach at Canadel and another at Le Rayol. Carla Bruni, model, singer and wife of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visited the beach at Canadel before she became famous. For many years until 2007, there was a swimming race around the headland from one beach to the other but it was stopped after health and safety concerns. Every year there is a fireworks display on 15 August to celebrate when Allied troops landed on the beaches during World War II to liberate France.[1]
Petrol truck explosion
In the early morning of 19 August 2008, a tanker laden with 30,000 litres of petrol and diesel overturned and skidded into the Hotel Rayol Canadel and the local estate agents office. All 15 persons in the hotel were safely evacuated prior to the building going up in flames. The tanker driver and 5 firemen were injured, one of the firemen had to be treated for several fractures when a wall fell on him. The tanker left the D559 on a bend where the road leaves the village for Cavalaire.[2]
Domaine du Rayol
The Domaine du Rayol is the most popular attraction in the village and is a large Gardens of plants from around the world. It has 11 gardens as follows:
- Mediterranean Garden
- Canary Islands Garden
- Californian Garden
- Australian Garden
- South African Garden
- Chile Garden
- Arid American Garden
- New Zealand Garden
- Sub-Tropical American Garden
- Sub-Tropical Asian Garden
- Marine Garden - Here there are guided snorkelling tours of the marine wildlife and flora.
It is open 365 days a year and there are always guided tours available.[3]
Other points of interest
- Bailli de Suffren (Hotel)
- Tropicana Club (Beach Club / Restaurant)
- Relais des Maures (Restaurant)
- Maurin des Maures (Restaurant)[4]
