La Garde-Freinet - factfile

La Garde-Freinet is a sleepy medieval-style Provence town less than half an hour's drive from the tourist beaches of St Tropez and St Maxime.

Overlooked by high rocky peaks, the town is perched on hills surrounded by thick forest and is a popular destination for hikers and holidaymakers alike.

The hills of Massif des Maures, stretching 30km to the southwest and 20km to the northeast of La Garde-Freinet, are forested with oak and cork oak. Chestnut groves cover land closer to the town and are farmed for jam and honey.

The town itself is a typical blend of windy streets and tall, narrow houses, many of which have been renovated. British ex-pats live alongside the locals, with accommodation rented out to tourists in the summer season.

A popular mid-week market attracts both tourists and locals and there are several bars and restaurants lining the town's squares.

Le Garde-Freinet sits beside the D558, one of the main roads between the A8 autoroute and the seaside resorts around St Tropez. It's a nice place to stop, and it's a good location for visiting the Maures, either by the twisty little roads or the hiking trails that go off through the forested hills.

The town is usually quiet from October to April, then in May the tourist traffic begins building up for the summer.