Cap Taillat

Cap Taillat is a wild headland on the Var coast between Cap Lardier and Cap Camarat, and it is one of the most protected and unspoiled stretches of the Riviera. It belongs to the conservation lands of the Conservatoire du littoral, which has kept it free of building, and it can only be reached on foot, which has kept the crowds away. The cape is usually reached from La Croix-Valmer, since the most common walk to it starts from the Gigaro beach in that commune, though the headland itself lies on the border with Ramatuelle.

The most striking feature is the sandy isthmus, a narrow strip of sand and low dunes joining the rocky cape to the mainland, with a small beach on each side. This kind of formation, called a tombolo, happens when waves and currents pile sand between an island or headland and the shore, and here it creates two different bays separated by only a few dozen metres of land. On one side, the water is often calm, while on the other it can be rough, depending on the wind. The sand is pale, the water is clear and turquoise in good weather, and the view across the sea toward the Îles d'Hyères is wide and open. On clear days, the long outline of the islands of Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Levant can be seen on the horizon.

The approach is part of the experience. A coastal path, the sentier du littoral, runs from Gigaro along the shore, through maquis scrub of cork oak, mastic, myrtle and strawberry tree, with rocky coves and pine trees clinging to the cliffs. The walk takes around an hour each way, over uneven ground, and it can be hot, so carry water, wear a hat and sturdy shoes, and expect little shade. There are no cafés or shops on the cape. Rules protect the fragile vegetation and wildlife, so stay on the paths, take your rubbish away, and respect any restrictions on fire, camping and dogs, which are posted at the entrances.

The headland is part of a stretch of coast that also includes Cap Camarat, with its lighthouse, and the wooded Cap Lardier. Farther along, the famous resort of Saint-Tropez, with its Citadelle, the Place des Lices, the Port de Saint-Tropez and the Plage de Pampelonne, shows a very different face of the same coast.

Cap Taillat suits walkers, swimmers and photographers who value quiet. Go in spring or autumn for the most comfortable temperatures, and check forest-access restrictions in summer, when fire risk can close the paths.