Jazz in Saint-Raphaël:
A Summer Tradition

The Festival des Jazz in Saint-Raphaël, in the Var, is an annual festival that now draws thousands of people over 4 days in July. You can enjoy every style of music there, from jazz to rock, by way of blues and world music. For 38 years, the whole town of Saint-Raphaël has been swinging every summer to the sound of the double bass and the saxophone, and much more… All the latest musical trends are there too, to the delight of young and old alike!

How the festival is organised

During these 4 days of festivities in Saint-Raphaël, 350 musicians, from all over France and from many other countries around the world, bring the town to life on 9 different stages: right in the town centre, on the Santa Lucia harbour, at the Agora of the Palais des Congrès, on terraces, out at sea, and in the districts of Boulouris, Valescure, Agay and Le Dramont… Roving bands, known as jazz bands, also stroll through the town's streets, bringing the music to music lovers, as close as possible to festival-goers. Most concerts are completely free; only those at the Agora have to be booked in advance. Some thirty concerts and brass bands, as well as around twenty cabarets, exhibitions and music workshops, are offered free to the public during the 4 days of the festival.

The festival's big names

To name but a few, here are some of the big names who have performed in Saint-Raphaël in recent years: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Garrett, Pink Martini, Kool and The Gang, Ben L'Oncle Soul, Thomas Galliano, Ernesto Tito Puentes, Calypso Rose, Maceo Parker, Fred Viale, and more. Vocal power, virtuosity, talent, improvisation, musical diversity, artistic richness… everything comes together for festival-goers to enjoy truly moving and culturally enriching moments in the unique setting of the superb town of Saint-Raphaël and the Côte d'Azur.

Getting your ticket

There are many ticket offices in different parts of town: at the Village des Jazz (near the Bonaparte garden), at the Palais des Congrès (on the Santa Lucia harbour) and at the reception of the Centre Culturel (Place Gabriel Péri). The town of Saint-Raphaël makes a point of making this big festival easy to enjoy by laying on 3 free shuttle buses to the various concert venues: the first from Agay, the second from Saint-Raphaël – Pin Blanc, and the third from Fréjus.

An eco-responsible festival

Every year, the Festival des Jazz in Saint-Raphaël aims to be eco-responsible by putting in place civic actions to protect the environment as much as possible: ISO 20121-certified festival, electric transport, priority given to local and organic products (supporting local producers), waste sorting and collection, reusable plastic cups, dry toilets, paperless materials, reuse of signage, LED lighting on stage… The festival is also associated with the fight against cancer (France Cancer) and with sustainable development through Bouchons d'Amour. One more reason to take part in the festival while supporting humanitarian causes and protecting the planet.

In addition, more than thirty local sponsors, including Best Western Plus La Marina, are partners of the Saint-Raphaël festival to show their commitment to local culture.

Where to stay during the festival?

Located right in the heart of the Festival des Jazz in Saint-Raphaël, our Best Western Plus La Marina hotel is the ideal base for getting to the various concert venues and other musical events. Our 4-star hotel, also a partner of the famous festival, stands on the Santa Lucia harbour, next to the Palais des Congrès, a stone's throw from the town centre and a few minutes from Valescure and Boulouris! The dream location for any festival-goer! All the stages and cabarets can be reached on foot. Even the concerts held on boats out at sea are within easy reach… As well as its ideal location for the festival, Best Western Plus La Marina offers unrivalled services in the region: comfortable rooms (renovated and air-conditioned), a refined restaurant, a wellness centre, a gym, a pool… all in a calm and pleasant seaside setting, worthy of a true 4-star hotel. Everything you need to recharge fully between two intense, lively days of festival.

The ideal formula: relaxing at the hotel and swinging at the festival

What could be better than spending a moving, swinging day of music just steps from your hotel, then heading back whenever you like to rest, eat, sleep or lounge by the pool, before going to the evening concert at the Agora of the Palais des Congrès right next door? And doing it all again the next day. It is undoubtedly the best way to make the most of the Festival des Jazz in Saint-Raphaël! No other hotel in the Var can offer you such well-suited services.