Bandol France Riviera
Frequently Asked Questions
By tender. Ships anchor off the bay and bring passengers into the heart of the harbour, at Quai Charles-de-Gaulle, lined with pastel facades and terraces. The whole centre is flat and walkable.
The morning market along the avenues, a tasting at a cellar in town, then Renécros beach ten minutes' walk away or a section of the coastal path. It all fits within a small area.
One of the oldest in France, recognized in 1941. The vineyard occupies an amphitheatre of south-facing terraces where mourvèdre yields reds built to age and rosés with real structure, which keep better than most rosés.
Several cellars in town offer tastings without a booking, minutes from the quay. Organized excursions head inland to the estates between La Cadière-d'Azur and Le Castellet, two hilltop villages worth seeing in their own right.
The Anse de Renécros, a crescent of sand sheltered from almost every wind, on the far side of the point that closes the harbour. The water shelves gently, which makes it the family swim of choice, under ten minutes' walk from the tender pier.
Partly. The stretch to the Anse des Engraviers, about 3.5 kilometres, alternates easy going with rockier sections; sturdy shoes are enough, but it is not a walk in sandals. You can turn back at any point.
It depends on the season. The islet, bought in 1950 by the industrialist Paul Ricard, who turned it into a hamlet of workshops and Italianate squares, is reached by a shuttle boat in under ten minutes. Redevelopment work can restrict access: ask at the harbour kiosk on the day.
Olive trees, Provençal fabrics, fougasse bread and soaps, spread along the avenues. Port calls in the morning often coincide with the market, which gives the quay its liveliest hours.
Very much so. Renécros shelves gently, the harbour promenade is flat and short, and umbrella rentals, beach cabins and small restaurants round it out. There is no major attraction, though: this is a beach and vineyard call.
The euro and French. Cards work in shops and tasting cellars; a little cash is handy at the market and for the Bendor shuttle.
