Fréjus

Frejus is in the Var department of Provence, just inland from Saint Raphael on the Cote d'Azur. The coast around Fréjus has become very developed and now there is little to separate the town itself from nearby St Raphael.

The town has an illustrious past, dating back to pre-Roman times, and 2000 years ago it was an important trade centre and port. The sea has now receded and the main port is at St Raphael and Fréjus-Plage.

There are scattered Roman remains to be seen, including the remains of the aquaduct. Both the amphitheatre and the theatre are still used for summer time events. The ampitheatre is smaller than those of Nimes and Arles and in a dilapidated condition.

The medieval centre of Frejus is centred around the Place Formagé where the cathedral of Saint Léonce and the Mairie fill two sides of the square. The cathedral is small and in an attractive, simple style - note especially the carvings around the doorways, and the cloister and the 4th/5th century baptistry are both very attractive (the cloisters are also among the listed French National Monuments.

The town hall was originally the bishop's palace and is painted a pale orange colour.
There is also an attractive 15th century church - St Maximinus - in Frejus.
If you are looking for something more offbeat, track down the Chinese pagoda, or the Sudanese mosque, then the memorial to the war in Indochina. I wasn't quite sure why any of them were here, but quite interesting all the same!

Frejus is quite a calm, pretty town centre to explore - meanwhile sun lovers will want to head just down the road to the beach where Frejus Plage merges into the more up-market Saint Raphael.