MAP OF THE VILLAGE

From the Tourist Office (1) place de l' Ormeau (elm tree square) (2) discover the hundred-year-old olive tree. In 1983 it was planted in the place of the elm planted in Sully's time to commemorate peace and the conversion of king Henri IV. The elm figures on the village's coat of arms.

The square of the church Notre-Dame (3). Walk under the porche (4) (right coming out of the church) and follow the "rue du Centre" into the old village with its windy narrow alleyways and ancient fortifications. You will note the old pituresque buildings (5), doorways and windows going back to the 17th century when the village was rebuilt after the wars of religion.

You will then come to the "place Gabriel' Péri" (formerly the "place du Château") (6) where you will see the local lord's residence altered in the 18th century by the Audibert family. Walk past the "Cercle du Littoral"(7) founded in 1885 and whose motto is : "when I enter the Circle (club) I leave all that seperates us outside and preciously keep everything that unites us."

Head down a a steep alleyway (8), where you will find the narrowest alley of the village (9). The names of the streets are very suggestive... The other side of the walls, whilst heading up the street "Victor Léon", you can admire the tall fortified houses.
Then follow the street "Georges Clémenceau" upto to the Alfasser square where you can see the "Amicale des Anciens des Services Spéciaux de la Défense Nationale A.S.S.D.N." (Veterans of the Special Services of National Defence) memorial (12) inaugurated in May 1959.

Then go to the "chapelle Sainte-Anne" (13) built in the 16th century and visit the cemetery (14) where you can see the actor Gérard Philipe's tombstone covered with ivy in the shade of a bay tree.

Take a right and head upto the "Avenue du 8 mai". When you get level with the car park you have a panaromic view (15) over the plain, the Camarat lighthouse and the south part of the Bay of Pampelonne.

You have a view over the rooves of the village from the esplanade of the town hall (16). And finally come back to the "Place de l' 'Ormeau" past the fountain (17).

Photos : -Saracen doorway -Café de l' 'Ormeau (Elm tree café) -Narrow alleyway

The Saracen doorway (10). It has kept its original aspect. Inside you can still distinguish the slots where the portcullis used to be and the hinges from 1792 that supported a folding door.

The other side you will notice two stone projections over the doorway that used to support a sentry box.

In the street that heads down from the bell tower and follows the fortifications you will find the ancient prisons (11).

They were built under Napoléon III in Arabian style (so much so that it was said that they were a hammam built by the Saracens).

War Memorial of the "Anciens des Service Spéciaux de la Défense Nationale (ASSDN)" (Veterans of the Special Services of National Defence) (12). This unique French monument by Courbier was inaugurated May 3rd 1959. It commemorates the French submarine missions during the last World War.

A groupe of local Resistants helped a submarine who was transporting secret agents from Algiers to land. At l' Escalet you can see memorials commemorating these events (take the coastal footpath from the little harbour to the Escudelier rock).

The Chapel of Ste-Anne (13)
Is also called the Penitents Chapel. It is the only survivor of the four chapels of Ramatuelle. Built in the 16th century and restored in the 60's. A religious service is given July 26th, the day of Ste Anne.

The Church of Notre-Dame (3).
You will notice the doorway made of serpentine from 1620. The church leans against the fortifications. You can see the covered way on the roof. The bell tower was originally a watchtower.
Inside you will discover in a little alcove two wooden statuettes from the 16th century (Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary) and also a wooden bust of Saint André (patron Saint of Ramatuelle), two 17th century altarpieces, three commemorative plaques of the wrecks of three submarines of the French Navy : the Sybille (24-09-52), the Minerve (27-01-68) and the Eurydice (04-03-70) sunk off Cape Camarat for unknown reasons.

Presbytery (18)
Post office (19)
Exhibition hall and Library (20)
School G. Philipe (21)
WC- Bins- Local police (22)