Salut!

Île Saint-Honorat: not far from the Côte d'Azur's madding crowd

Another look at places Off the Beaten Path in France brings you the small island of Saint-Honorat, a 15-minute boat shuttle from the little ferry port of Cannes and home since the 5th century to a community of wine-growing monks.

Just 1.5km long and 400m wide, the isle is a doddle to cover on foot in a short visit and, despite its popularity as a serene haven from the Croisette, crowd-free and relaxing. It might even work for you if the bustle of its larger neighbour, Sainte-Marguerite - see this report from a previous visit which even inspired a little Salut! competition - just seems too much.

Off the beaten track in France: (1) Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume

At the western edge of the sprawling French departement of Var lies Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, a town I have long meant to visit without ever quite getting round to it.

The name has lived in the consciousness throughout Monsieur and Madame Salut's 20-odd years in this part of France.