Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer is a commune

Communes of France

The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...

 in the Var

Var (département)

The Var is a French department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in Provence, in southeast France. It takes its name from the river Var, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but the boundary was moved in 1860...

 department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...

 region

Régions of France

France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...

 in southeastern France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan 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

Carla Bruni

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is an Italian-French songwriter, singer, actress, and former model...

, model, singer and wife of the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....

, 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

Allies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...

 troops landed on the beaches during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

to liberate France.

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.

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.

Other points of interest

• Bailli de Suffren (Hotel)
• Tropicana Club (Beach Club / Restaurant)
• Relais des Maures (Restaurant)
• Maurin des Maures (Restaurant)