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The town is set along a 4km stretch of the coast with Port Grimaud to the East. The land is flat around the town but has the Maures mountains rising to the north. The story of how Cogolin got its name is told in an old legend that a ship ran aground here. On board were two animals which escaped the wreck. One was a rooster, which fled into the nearby linseed fields and a dog. The town then became known as Coq au Lin or Cogolin. Nobody knows what happened to the dog.
Historically it is famous for its local crafts and industries. The most famous being pipe making which started back in 1802 by the Courrieu family. The main location to see the enormous range of pipes is on the Boulevard de Lattre de Tassigny in the center of the town. This wonderful craft started due to the abundance of briar wood in the mountains. The other crafts of note are the handmade rugs and the reeds are used in making wind instruments.
In the old town the market square, which has a busy provencal trade every Saturday, and the main center are around the Town Hall and the Place de la Republique. There are a number of smaller little streets which are interesting to stroll around towards the Tour de l'Horloge, which is the 14th century clock tower, on a walled hill top and the cemetery. There are a number of small restaurants which offer local French cuisine at good value on their "plats du jour" menus. Do not be surprised to see roads signs have been named twice eg Placette Haute also has a sign saying Place de la Liberte which was changed around the time of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, Rue Romaine has a sign also stating Rue de la Resistance,and many more.
The old port is where the smaller marina is located and is situated between Port Grimaud and the new marina complex. It is an ideal location for yachting crew or yacht charters to stock up with provisions onboard as the prices are reasonable. There are many small hotels at sensible prices to be found.
Nearby is the new marina, which has ample berths and excellent facilities, is surrounded by modern apartments, shops and boutiques. The two ports are quite different is style and size. For those with an interest in the film industry the museum to visit here is one that is dedicated to the life and films of Jules Muraire and Jean Nohain. The Raimu Museum can be located on Ave George Clemenceau and is open Monday to Saturday.
Bike hire is another way to explore this beautiful part of the Bay of St Tropez. Due to the flat lowlands this makes an enjoyable and easy way to discover this beautiful area. There are also horse riding excursions and organised walks into the Maures Mountains. For water activities there are wind surfs for hire, diving courses and water skiing
