Pointe du Dattier - Cavalaire-sur-mer

Pointe du Dattier is a beautiful viewpoint on the Corniche des Maures, one of the oldest mountain ranges in France.

The unique light and the combination of blue water, red rocks and green vegetation make the Pointe du Dattier a popular subject for local artists and watercolorists .

The cliffs are largely made of slate and gneiss – rocks that are over 300 million years old . Erosion and sea wind have created spectacular rock formations and viewpoints.

“Dattier” literally means date palm , but there are no date palms growing at this location. The name may refer to the shape of an old tree or rock formation that resembled a bunch of dates. Another theory is that it comes from an old Provencal word that has nothing to do with dates – the exact origin remains a mystery.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, this rugged coastline was used by smugglers who brought goods (such as salt and alcohol) ashore, bypassing the official ports. The remote point was perfect: difficult to reach and barely visible from the sea.

Surrounding the cliffs are rocky coves and shallow reefs that are popular with snorkellers (sea urchins, starfish, octopus and posidonia beds (protected seagrass) and fish such as sars, sea bream and grouper are often seen).

Willem Vandenameele