The Templar Church
Audio guide in English
In the 13th century, Saint-Raphaël was under the authority of the Bishop of Fréjus, who occasionally resides there as well as in Fayence and Puget, his main residence being Fréjus. It was he who initiated the construction of this tower, erected on the arm of the south transept of the Church of San Rafeu, at the end of the 13th century.
This fortified tower, whose origin has long been wrongly attributed to the Templars, due to similarities in construction techniques, is more a symbol of authority than a defensive element. 25 meters high, it has 3 floors and its walls are made up in places of ancient re-uses.
It was not until 1881 that the wrought iron campanile was affixed to the top of the tower, as well as the bell, weighing 100kg and hammering the hours. At the top of the 129 steps, a superb 360 ° panorama opens up in front of you, from the summits of the Estérel to the tip of Saint-Tropez, passing through the ponds of Villepey, the rock of Roquebrune, and a breathtaking view of the basilica and its Byzantine domes.