Panorama from the Butte Saint-Antoine
Locals call it simply 'la butte' — the low wooded hill that rises behind the old town and rewards a 20-minute walk with a sweeping 180-degree panorama stretching from the Massif de l'Estérel's red-rock peaks to the glittering Gulf of Saint-Tropez. It costs nothing and almost no tourist maps mention it.
Getting Up There
A signed footpath begins at the end of Chemin de la Butte, off Avenue Aristide Briand, winding through scrubby garrigue fragrant with rosemary and cistus. The path is unpaved but easy; wear trainers rather than sandals and allow 40 minutes return.
At the summit plateau you'll find the fragmentary remains of a medieval watchtower and a stone orientation table that names each visible landmark — the Maures hills, the Iles d'Or off Hyères, and on clear days the snow-capped pre-Alps inland.
Best Times to Visit
Sunrise is extraordinary here: the Estérel massif turns a deep violet before the sun crests it, flooding the gulf with copper light. Pack a thermos and a pastry from the boulangerie on Rue Grisolle and you have one of the Riviera's finest free breakfasts.
Late afternoon in summer is equally rewarding — the light softens, the sea turns pewter and silver, and the heat of the day has passed. The path is unlit, so leave yourself 30 minutes of daylight for the descent.
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