Frejus is an administrative division in the southeastern part of France. Along with the neighboring Saint-Raphael, it forms one town effectively. It is believed that it was the Celto-Ligurian people who originally settled around the natural habitat. You can still find the remains of a wall constructed to defend the locality on Cape Capelin and Mont Auriasque. The town is located on the western side of the Esterel Mountains and on the coast of the Mediterranean sea. Frejus was known as Forum Julii during the early Roman era and was a major port town. It sits in between Via Domitia and Via Augusta. Below we’ve listed the best things to see and do if you find yourself holidaying in Frejus.
1. The Cloister
You will find the Cloister to the north of Frejus Cathedral. The columns and the arches date back to the 13th-century and its capitals depict the keys that represent the town’s Bishops, while the Fleur de Lys represent the symbol of ruler Charles I of Anjou. When you take a closer look at its galleries, you can find painted and delicately carved images on the wooden ceilings. These paintings show animals and personalities from the 1300s and creatures from mythology.
Cloister
Address: 58 Rue de Fleury, 83600 Frejus, France
Website: Cloister
2. Cathédrale De Fréjus
The medieval edifices housing the cathedral are as old as the initial days of Christianity in France. The ensemble is called Cite Episcopale and it was fortified while being set around the Palace of the Gothic Bishop. The cathedral at Frejus is distinctive with its cube-shaped tower. The majority of the portions of this cathedral was constructed in the 1200s and so it is quite an ancient church. You can find two naves here that were built in separate time periods. One of the naves belonged to a parish church, which is defunct now. Both the naves are connected via an arcade.
Cathédrale De Fréjus
Address: 58 Rue de Fleury, 83600 Frejus, France
Website: Cathédrale De Fréjus
3. Mont Vinaigre
You cannot miss catching a glimpse of the mighty Esterel Massif Mountain ranges when you are visiting Frejus, France. They are located between Cannes and the city of Frejus in the Northeast. Mont Vinaigre is the tallest peak with a height of over 600 meters (1,968 feet). You can access it easily on the DN7 road while traveling to Cannes. The duration of the climb from the car park space is about half an hour and is a stiff one, though it is not tiring.
The path is covered by rosemary, lavender, juniper and a variety of wild herbs. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the mesmerizing views of the Mediterranean Coast, Cannes and Saint Tropez. Incidentally, this mountain had also been the hideout of the notorious brigands such as Gaspard de Besse in the 18th-century, who is often referred to as a Robin Hood-like figure.
Mont Vinaigre
Address: Mont Vinaigre, 83600 Frejus, France
Website: Mont Vinaigre (in French)
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4. Baptistery
The baptistery of the Frejus Cathedral is quite fascinating and has a separate entry for it. Here is a portion of the cathedral that dates back to the 400s, making it the most ancient site of Christianity in the province. The cathedral also enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest in France.
It was in the 1300s when this baptistery was covered. After several centuries, archaeologists managed to rediscover it in 1925. Over the course of time, it was revealed by the archaeologists that the marble floor is about 1,600-year-old. The big octagonal pool was the place where people were completely immersed during the ritual. Its interior have granite pillars, that originated in Rome.
Baptistery
Address: 58 Rue de Fleury, 83600 Frejus, France
Website: Baptistery
5. Frejus Aquaduct
The town has many Roman remains in and around it, and yet one of the most interesting ones is the Frejus Aqueduct remains. This aqueduct was constructed way back in the 1st-century AD. It covered a total distance pf approximately 50 km (31 miles) and brought water to the town from the mountains. Several parts of this aqueduct still remain today.
If you want to enjoy the sight of the aqueduct remains in the best possible way, you can use the DN7, which is a modern road and follows the path of the old Roman Road through Aurilia. Rivers like Siagnole and Foux that were located in the mountains near Frejus supplied water for this aqueduct.
Frejus Aquaduct
Address: Frejus, France
Website: Frejus Aquaduct
6. Musée Archéologique
The city of Frejus has been always in the news for excavating interesting artifacts from Forum Julii since the 19th-century. You will find many of those interesting artifacts in this museum. The diggings have resulted in some exciting discoveries about how the city was made in the ancient times, and the customs of the residents during that era, giving insight to their domestic life. There are plenty of captivating items for you to see here. You can have a look at many statues including Hermes’ bust, which symbolizes the city of Frejus, pottery, a mosaic that depicts a panther and much more.
Musée Archéologique
Address: 3 Place Calvini, 83600 Frejus, France
Website: Musée Archéologique (in French)
7. Musée des Troupes de Marine
It was founded in 1622 by Cardinal Richelieu and is regarded as the French Army’s waterborne arm. The museum acts as a testimony to the Troupes de Marine’s history that is closely interwoven with French colonialism. You are going to love this museum if you have an interest in that era.
The museum displays interesting items such as historic posters, model ships, maps, weapons, and uniforms. These items show the development of the troops on both cultural as well as technological levels, starting from the 17th-century onwards. There could be no argument related to the location of this museum, since Frejus was one of the biggest military bases in France.
Musée des Troupes de Marine
Address: 3 Place Calvini, 83600 Frejus, France
8. Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem
If you go off the DN7 road behind Frejus, you can be witness to an exciting piece of the French culture of the 20th-century in the form of this beautiful chapel. Jean Cocteau, the renowned film-maker, poet, and artist was commissioned to design this pretty chapel in the midst of the cork and the pine forest. Unfortunately, Cocteau could not complete the chapel as he passed away in 1963. However, this half-done project was completed by Edouard Dermit, an actor, and his adopted son. He finished the wall mosaics and frescos, following the sketches of Cocteau.
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem
Address: 3 Place Calvini, 83600 Frejus, France
9. Take in the scenic Massif de l'Esterel
The Massif de l'Esterel is well worth a drive, or even a bus trip. The views are stunning and there are trails marked here and there where you can explore. It’s well worth packing a picnic and heading out for the day. The route follows the coast which had beaches and lush vegetation. There are few coaches and bus tours there and often all you see are cyclists enjoying the beauty.
Once you get to the top you will want to stop for some photos. Keep a lookout for wildlife, as you may get lucky. With the red cliffs, huge rocks, rivers, streams and nature all around, it’s a peaceful and beautiful experience.
Massif de l'Esterel
Address: Str. Dip. Cannes- Frejus, Agay, Saint-Raphael, France
10. Luna Park Frejus
The Luna Park Frejus is ideal for the young at heart or families with kids. Make an evening of it and try to arrive before 10 PM. After that, it gets quite busy. Parking is available and the rides are reasonably priced. Designed for all ages, the smaller rides are good for the little kids.
Meanwhile, the teenagers get to experience the more robust ones. Even adults will have a good time in the park. There are more than enough fun rides to cover a three or four-hour evening. Flyers and leaflets from the tourist information centers or hotels help to get discounted tokens. The restaurant sells food and refreshments. It’s open every night from June through to September.
Luna Park Frejus
Address: Rue du Colonel Alary 06210 Fréjus
Website: Luna Park Frejus in French
Fun galore at Frejus, France
Come to the city of Frejus for its pristine beaches that are sandy and plentiful, for a port that is an up market site to have fun in the summer, for museums, and much more. The sky is the limit for you as far as sightseeing in and around this city is concerned.
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