Var Coast: French Riviera's Understated Art and Nature Haven

The Var coast, west of Saint-Tropez, offers a quieter, nature-rich alternative to the crowded eastern French Riviera. Protected landscapes include Port-Cros National Park, the Estérel massif, and the Îles d'Or. Key cultural sites include Villa Noailles in Hyères, a modernist arts center hosting fashion and photography festivals, and Fondation Carmignac on Porquerolles, a contemporary art foundation with works by Warhol, Basquiat, and Richter. New luxury accommodations include Zannier Île de Bendor, a 93-room hotel on a private island once owned by pastis magnate Paul Ricard, and the reimagined Hôtel Le Provençal on the Giens Peninsula. The region also features biodynamic wineries like Château Malherbe and Domaine de l'Île, acquired by Chanel in 2019. The Var coast has no major film festival or Grand Prix but offers warmer weather and a more authentic Riviera experience.