Var Provence

Think 480 km of coastline and 300 days of sunshine each year

Think unspoilt nature, quaint villages, old churches and museums

Think lavender, art, luxury, marinas, beaches and fun

Think 10 coastal cruise destinations from Saint Tropez to Toulon 2 Var Provence Executive summary

Along 50 nautical miles of France’s beautiful Mediterranean coastline there are ten ports that provide access to the natural beauty of the Var region.

he Provençal department of the Var The Var is blessed with a generous soil, deluxe and premium class small ships is situated on the Mediterranean which forms the basis for the production that can access the smaller ports. Tcoast in the southeast of France. of chestnuts, fi gs, olive oil and wines – in • Toulon offers cruise lines the best With 430km of coastline and 300 days of particular rosé varieties and the famous protected natural harbour in the sunshine each year it is the country’s most Bandol AOC wine. Mediterranean, with no tides, currents or popular region for tourists after Paris. Its The people of the Var have their own wind to deal with – all year round. It has climate makes it France’s largest producer ‘art of living’, celebrated in fl ower festivals become the safe and reliable option of fresh fl owers, and also its second most (the Corso), the bravades, and of course among captains during the winter forested area. pétanque tournaments. And authentic season in the western Mediterranean. The Var is home to some of France’s local arts and crafts include production of • The city centre terminal is just a fi ve most important national parks and areas cork and earthenware goods – including minute walk from Toulon’s old quarter of natural beauty. Among them are Port- Salernes pottery, which has been with its bustling Provençal market, Cros, home of Europe’s fi rst submarine produced here for 4,000 years. cathedral, shady squares, monuments garden; the national botanical • The Var’s Mediterranean coastline and fountains surrounded by cafés, conservatory at Porquerolles; and the stretches from Saint-Cyr, Bandol and boutiques and restaurants. regional park Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s Sanary, east of Toulon, to St Tropez and • Toulon-Hyères airport is a short 20 minute largest canyon. Some of France’s St Raphael to the west. There is one drive from the port. From Hyères there foremost national monuments are also to protected deep water harbour for are over 10 fl ights a day to London, be found in the Var: Le Thoronet Abbey, even the largest of cruise ships, and Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and Breast. Fréjus cloister and Saint-Maximin basilica nine anchorages alongside chic and Nice International airport is 90 minutes among them. beautiful marina harbours – ideal for from Toulon and Marseille International Var Provence 3

airport is just 60 minutes. Var Provence Cruise Club Cruise companies calling in • The Var region is ideal for pre- and Var Provence post-cruise stays as it has many luxury Launched in 2008 by the Var Chamber MSC, Iberocruceros, Thomson Cruises, and boutique hotels equipped to the of Commerce and Industry and the Var General Council, the Var Provence Island Cruises, Royal Caribbean highest international standards. Many International, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruise Club represents a network of are located in chic St Tropez. Cruises, Silversea, Noble Caledonia, ten ports to berth and/or anchor in • The Var region is gateway to medieval Seabourn, Star Clippers, Hapag Lloyd, Provence d’Azur: Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, hilltop villages, arts and craft workshops, Windstar Cruises, Seadream Yacht Bandol, Sanary sur Mer, Six Fours/ Club, Sea Cloud Cruises, Crystal cruises, monasteries and exceptional natural Les Embiez, Toulon/La Seyne, Hyères/ Azamara cruises, Regent Seven Seas, sites such as the Verdon Gorge – Europe’s Porquerolles, Le Lavandou, Cavalaire Club Med, Compagnie des Iles du largest canyon. sur Mer, Saint-Tropez and Saint-Raphaël. Ponant, Holland America Line and • The Var region is rich in activities for Ocean Village. golfers, mountain bikers, white water Contact the Var Provence Cruise rafters and gliding enthusiasts – and of Club for detailed information about course there are plenty of water sports operations in Var Provence region: to go with the 40km of beaches. transit or turnaround requests, excursion • The Var offers wine tasting, cooking offers, events, nautical distances between ports, marine maps, distances classes, off-the-beaten-track walking www.varprovence-cruise.com and access, technical and useful tours, exclusive picnics on beaches [email protected] contacts and information about all ten alongside vineyards, famous botanical Tel: +33 (0)4 94 22 80 60 ports. gardens and helicopter tours. 4 Var Provence Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer

An unspoiled irst stop at Saint-Cyr is the Statue AROUND SAINT-CYR of Liberty! Sculpted and signed by Cassis is a pretty little port tucked in introduction to FBartholdi, the creator of the original, between the massif of the calanques and the breathtaking this gilded small-scale model stands in the majestic Cap Canaille to the east, the centre of this pretty Provençal village. and is a great day excursion. The village, Calanques Here you can fi nd cafés, shops and a with its Museum of the Mediterranean, is market on Sunday. full of ancient Greek artefacts recovered Pack your swimming gear and head for from the seabed. There are boat trips to the nearby seaside resort and port of Les explore the secluded calanques to the Lecques. This is perfect for a day out, with west. Artists such as Dufy, Matisse and a long sandy beach and a promenade even Winston Churchill were persuaded humming with shops and restaurants. by the beauty of the scenery to set up There is also the Museum of Tauroentum, their easels here. which commemorates the town’s history For wine and olive oil, there is the as a Greek trading port. Domaine de Souviou, an estate with a One must-do while you are here is the 16th century bastide or farmhouse. Here Underwater Trail along the Port d’Alon there are guided tours of the estate with calanque. There are several of these tastings of wine and olive oil – the twin rocky, fjord-like inlets along the coast fl avours of Provence. from Saint-Cyr west to Marseille, and they provide a fantastic opportunity to bathe in sheltered, clear blue waters and study the marine environment below. Tel: +33 (0)4 94 26 39 81 Bandol

The vineyard capital andol is one of the oldest and la Bégude, however, is the highest and largest Riviera resorts. It is also most northerly and, housed in a building of Provence Bfamous for its wines – red, white and chapel dating from the 7th century and rosé – which benefi t from the unique where wine-tasting and Provençal Provençal combination of cold northerly cooking courses can be enjoyed in nthe mistral winds and hot ripening sun. Bandol most beautiful surroundings. itself is set in a sheltered bay with many Golfers will enjoy the Ronald Fream-designed sandy beaches. It is a friendly seaside golf course at the Dolce Frégate Provence resort with a tree-lined promenade, a resort. The setting of its 27 holes overlooking the casino and a large yacht harbour, with blue Mediterranean, is considered one of the pretty boutiques along the seafront most beautiful in Europe. open every day of the week. The tiny The Paul Ricard motor-racing circuit streets around the 18th century church at Castellet has been renovated and of St François de Sales are also lively with modernised to Formula 1 standards. restaurants and shops. The pretty village of Le Castellet is built on a fortifi ed hilltop, with a 15th century AROUND BANDOL château. With its arts and crafts shops The vineyards of Bandol extend 15km and medieval history, Le Castellet and inland; they are built on terraces known its neighbour, La Cadière d’Azur, make a as restanques. Organised wine-tasting fascinating day excursion. trips can be arranged by appointment Tel: +33 (0)4 94 29 42 64 at any of the wine estates. Domaine de Email: [email protected] Var Provence 5 Sanary-sur-Mer

A picture postcard setting

anary-sur-Mer is a pretty little village with colourful ‘pointu’ fi shing boats Sbobbing at the quay. White and pink cottages line the shallow sandy beach. The small shady squares, local shops and cafés are all typically Provençal. The atmosphere oozes security and the comfort of old traditions. German intellectuals such as Thomas Mann and his brother Heinrich, museum here that bears his name has a AROUND SANARY Bertolt Brecht, Stephan Zweig and the collection of old-fashioned diving gear. The pretty village of Ollioules has at its painter Lion Feuchtwanger fl ed to this The Exotic Garden and Zoo has a display centre a huge 11thcentury Romanesque haven in the late 1930s to escape Nazism. of hundreds of rare and beautiful plants, church. Winding streets lead up to a 13th British writer Aldous Huxley lived here in the and a collection of typical animals of the century ruined château, surrounded early 1930s, a period his biographer Sybille region. Dolphin-watching excursions depart by terraced hills, where the locals grow Bedford captures in her novel Jigsaw. from the port; you can spend all day oranges and lemons as well as fl owers to The underwater explorer Jacques observing these gentle creatures frolicking supply the huge wholesale fl ower market. Cousteau carried out his experiments in the azure waters of the Mediterranean. The village is set at the entrance to a here that led to the development of the deep gorge with many mysterious caves, modern aqualung. One of his original Tel: +33 (0)4 94 74 20 95 where bandits used to hide. assistants was Frédéric Dumas, and the Email: [email protected]

Six-Fours and Les Embiez island

For lovers of nature and diving

he town of Six-Fours-les-Plages is AROUND SIX-FOURS situated on the Sicié peninsula, giving North of Six-Fours, the Notre Dame de Taccess to a range of great beaches. Pepiole chapel is one of the oldest The town has a string of modern beach Christian churches in France, dating back bars and restaurants and has a market to the 6th century. on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. In the The tree park at Coudou Park is a nearby port of Le Brusc to the south, there is a fantastic experience for all the family, market on Thursdays, and a night market on allowing you to swing like Tarzan through selected evenings in July and August. the giant pine forest canopy. There are The town is dominated by a massive nine different courses to suit all ages. 19th century fort. Sheltering in its shadow This is a paradise for nature lovers; is the 11th century Romanesque collegial divers will love the clear water, and there chapel of St Peter, enlarged in 1608. is a long nature trail to follow. Les Embiez The Cap Nègre battery, built in 1846 to island is famous for the Paul Ricard dominate this part of the coastline, is to Oceanographic Centre. The smaller the north of Six-Fours. Here the interactive Gaou island has concerts every summer. museum brings to life the history of the battery, coastal defence and the role of Tel: +33 (0)4 94 10 65 21 the French navy. Email: [email protected] 6 Var Provence Destination highlights

Marseilles Airport

Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer

Toulon / Paris Bandol La Seyne Var Provence Sanary-sur-Mer Cannes Marseilles Barcelona Rome Corsica Six-Fours/Les Embiez

SAINT-CYR-SUR-MER SANARY-SUR-MER TOULON / LA SEYNE • Saint François de Sales church • Provence tournaments between • Mont Faron • Pointe Grenier and Pointe du Deffend knights on the open sea • Toulon bay headlands • The port and its pointus • Tour Royale • Ile de Bendor • Sanary exotic garden and the zoo • Shady squares and pedestrian streets • Tauroentum Roman Museum • St Nazaire church through the medieval district • Sebastien’s Art Center • Medieval tower • Ste Marie de la Sedo cathedral • The Statue of Liberty • Chapels • Pierre Puget’s Atlantes fi gures • Provence Space • Forts and batteries • Original port entrance, Porte de • The Calanques of Port d’Alon • Frédéric Dumas diving museum l’Arsenal (entrance of the former naval • Sandy beaches • Arts and crafts galleries and boutiques museum) • Provençal market through the pedestrian district • The bell of the port’s clock tower • Landing memorial in Provence BANDOL SIX-FOURS AND LES EMBIEZ ISLAND • Saint Louis fort • Bendor island • Aquarium museum at the Paul Ricard • Galeries Lafayette building • Maison des vins Oceanographic Institute • Former Caisse d’Epargne building • Eglise Saint François de Sales • Museum of the Environment • The fountains footpath • Dolce Frégate Golf • Ste Cécile Chapel • Art museum • Museums • Les Embiez’ Cellar • Hôtel des Arts modern art centre • Residence Athena • Round the island on foot, by bike, or on • Photography centre • Tuesday’s market the little train • Museum of old Toulon • Littoral path: Pointe Grenier and Pointe • Arena • National marine museum du Deffend • Beaches • Asian arts museum • Saint-Pierre church • Natural history museum • Cap Nègre fort • Alexander I gardens • Pépiole chapel Var Provence 7 Nice Airport

Saint-Raphaël / Fréjus

Saint-Tropez

Cavalaire-sur-Mer Le Lavandou Toulon-Hyères Airport Hyères/Porquerolles

HYÈRES/PORQUEROLLES CAVALAIRE-SUR-MER • Pedestrian streets and luxury shops • The House of the National Park and the • Rayol’s Mediterranean Gardens • The fi sh market Emmanuel Lopez Garden • Outstanding scuba-diving site • Annonciade museum • The Fort Sainte Agathe • Champion jetski site • The butterfl y house • Le Moulin du Bonheur, a typical • Fish market Provençal windmill • Le Massif des Maures SAINT RAPHAËL / FRÉJUS • Jazz Festival in Porquerolles • Cavalaire’s Casino • Provence tournaments between knights • Port Cros National Park on the open sea (nautical jousting) • Porquerolles beaches SAINT-TROPEZ • Corniche d’Or Estérel massif • Villa Noailles • International Saint-Tropez Polo Cup (characteristic ochre mountain hills) • The templars’ tower & castle in Hyères (June-July) • Festival of string quartets in Pays de medieval district • Ramatuelle Festival (music festival in Fayence • Les Salins birds’ sanctuary July-August) • Archaeological museum of Fréjus • ‘Les voiles de Saint-Tropez’ – Saint- • Notre Dame de la Victoire de Lépante LE LAVANDOU Tropez’s International sailing regatta Basilica • The 12 sandy beaches (September-October) • Chapel known as Knights Templar • Provençal open-air market on Thursday • Bravades of Saint-Tropez chapel mornings • Famous Gendarmerie of Saint-Tropez, • Villa Magali (garden and restored art • St Louis Church from French actor Louis de Funes’ sculptures from Palais des Tuileries in Paris) • The fi shermen movie scenes • Megaliths • The painters • Place des Lices (pétanque • Memorials dedicated to the Provence • The fountains footpath playground) Landings on 15 August 1944 • Excursions by boat towards the islands • Saint-Tropez yacht marina promenade • Jean Cocteau Chapel • Discovery of the Maures Hills • Brigitte Bardot’s exhibition (June– • Roman aqueduct and amphitheatre in October 2010) Fréjus 8 Var Provence Toulon / La Seyne

The city-centre cruise port, the most beautiful and protected bay in the Med

spices and herbs. In the afternoon the street food market transforms itself into a crafts market. Here too is where the Museum of Old Toulon is to be found. Directly opposite is the Cathédrale Ste Marie de la Sedo, dating from the 11th century. Its Baroque façade was added when it was extended in the 17th century, and it was used as an arms depot during the Revolution. The National Naval Museum, down on the dockside, houses a fi ne collection of scale models of the French fl eets up to the late 18th century, along with accounts of the fi nest hours of the French Navy. One of the interior walls is all that remains of the Le Bagne penal colony, immortalised by Victor Hugo in Les Misérables. The luxuriant gardens of Le Mourillon are located in the area to the east of the port. This became Toulon’s chic quarter in the 19th century. It has a fi ne promenade lined with grand houses and a daily food market, as well as seaside bars and restaurants.

he city of Toulon is set in one of AROUND TOULON Europe’s biggest and most beautiful To the west of Toulon is La Seyne, where Tbays, and is home to the French you can fi nd Fort Balaguier, a gun fl eet. It has a fascinating history; forts top tower built in 1643 and reinforced by the ochre-red cliffs around the bay and the renowned French military architect the white cliffs of Mount Faron rise above Vauban. Now a naval museum, the fort as a backdrop. The town has a medieval also tells the story of Napoleon’s capture centre and the largest street market in of the Royalist port in 1793. There are fi ne Provence; it also has the Opera, museums views across the bay from the terrace and and galleries. It is a good place for a range beautiful gardens. The Tamaris coast road of shore excursions deeper into Provence. in La Seyne takes you to the pretty beach There is the cable car up to Mount resort of Les Sablettes, and features exotic Faron, which at 584m offers fabulous Mexican, Oriental and Swiss-style villas. views over the Bay of Toulon. Here there is a zoo with its wild cats and monkeys, and the Allied Landings Memorial Museum, Tel: +33 (0)4 94 42 27 65 housed in a 19th century fort. Email: AMBA-Capitainerie.DDEVar@ Down in the town itself, the market is a equipement.gouv.fr good place to start exploring. Every day except Monday the Cours Lafayette becomes a colourful, bustling souk selling Mediterranean fruit, vegetables, fl owers, Var Provence 9 Hyères/Porquerolles

History and unspoiled natural landscapes

yères is the oldest of the southern The salt road is the thin isthmus French winter resorts, and was connecting the mainland to the peninsula Hparticularly popular with Robert of Giens where there is a wealth of birdlife, Louis Stevenson wrote part of Kidnapped including storks, herons and fl amingos, as here in 1886, Queen Victoria who visited well as rare water lilies and orchids. in 1892 and Edith Wharton who wrote the Age of innocence. The town still retains AROUND HYÈRES an old-fashioned charm with its casino, The three Hyères Islands, about 10km off racecourse, botanical gardens, opulent the coast, have a rich history of conquest belle époque houses, oriental-style villas, and piracy. Porquerolles is worth visiting and boulevards lined with palms. for the superb views from the fort of The medieval quarter rises behind the Saint Agathe, which was a 12th century new town, with the ruins of a feudal castle manor house. Just a few minutes away towering over it. The main church is the 13th is the ‘Windmill of Happiness’, built in the century St Louis, in the Romanesque and early 18th century – the ‘golden age’ of Provençal Gothic style. The 11th century Provençal windmills. and has magnifi cent woodlands of myrtle, church of St Paul is full of 17th century ex- Visit the Domaine de la Courtade holm oak and strawberry tree. Because of votos, giving thanks for divine help and organic vineyard and taste some of the clear waters and undisturbed marine guidance. Students of architecture will the unique island wines. The National life, it is also a great spot for diving or seek out the modernist Villa Noailles, built in Botanical Conservatory has magnifi cent snorkelling. 1924, once the scene of bohemian parties gardens which can be visited by groups, with guests including Picasso, Buñuel, Man by appointment. Ray and Stravinsky. The island of Port-Cros is a national park, Tel: +33 (0)4 98 04 63 10 Le Lavandou

The quaint old town with 12 sandy beaches

his former fi shing village has AROUND LE LAVANDOU the unique feature of 12 sandy The Massif des Maures is a mini-mountain Tbeaches with different colour sand; stretching from Hyères to Fréjus, and is one Le Lavandou has a busy pleasure-boat of the wildest areas of Provence. One of the marina where the fi shing port used to be; area’s 26 small villages is Collobrières which this is now the centre for watersports. The is famous for its chestnuts and chestnut old village retains its charm, with a market, products, such as chestnut ice cream and lots of artists, galleries and exhibitions, and marrons glacés. The confi serie is also a miles of coastal track to walk. There is a museum of the industry, with old machinery pretty 19th century church of St Louis in and copper pots on display. the heart of the pedestrianised shopping area. The main square has views over Tel: +33 (0)4 94 00 41 10 two of the Hyères islands, Levant and Email: secretariat@ Port Cros. capitainerie-lelavandou.fr 10 Var Provence Cavalaire-sur-Mer

Water sports in championship conditions

his lively resort has 4km of sandy beaches and is the perfect Tspot for watersports including diving, windsurfi ng, sailing dinghies and catamarans, but especially jetskiing. In September each year Cavalaire hosts the Jet Games championship for the top jetski pilots. This is also a centre for paragliding and microlight fl ying. Gassin is set on the top of a rocky spur is famous. These rugs can be found in the and offers 360-degree views of the whole Elysée Palace and even the White House. FROM AROUND CAVALAIRE-SUR-MER peninsula. The town has a medieval Cogolin's pipe-making industry, begun The Rayol Garden is a celebration of fl ora fortress, tiny alleyways and beautiful old in 1802, is based in one of the world’s from Mediterranean climates all around stone houses jostling around the church. oldest pipe factories. the world. Lovingly created by landscape At Cogolin you can visit the gardener Gilles Clément, this beautiful Manufacture des Tapis to see the hand- Tel: +33 (0)4 94 64 17 81 garden is a must-see. made Jacquard rugs for which the village Email: [email protected] Saint-Tropez

his playground of the famous and From myth to reality events programme: one of the highlights glamorous remains at heart a tiny is the International Sailing Regatta in the Tfi shing village, full of charm. It is easy last week of September and fi rst week of to get lost among the tiny winding streets. works of the artists such as Matisse, Vuillard, October; this brings 300 or more of the The waterfront is ideal for watching the Bonnard, Dufy, Braque and Picasso are most beautiful modern and traditional fi shermen mixing with the millionaires on to be seen. The House of Butterfl ies is in boats to the harbour. their magnifi cent yachts. The best view of the medieval part of town and contains Saint-Tropez is from the sea, so that you a collection of 4,500 butterfl ies found in AROUND SAINT-TROPEZ can appreciate the imposing citadel. France, and rare species from the Amazon. One of the most famous beaches, La The Annonciade Museum is where the The town is known for its year-round Pampelonne, is actually about 6km out of town, around the peninsula in the direction of Ramatuelle. This is a very attractive walled hilltop village with a Saracen gate, a tree-lined square and some good restaurants. Another must-see village in the area is Port Grimaud, which has been described as France’s most beautiful waterside town. It is built on piles and is traffi c-free, with bridges and canals, tiny alleys and multicoloured fi shermen’s cottages. Tel: +33 (0)4 94 56 68 70 Email: [email protected] Var Provence 11 Saint-Raphaël/Fréjus

From the Roman times to the trendy French Riviera

his historic town sits prettily against AROUND SAINT-RAPHAËL multicoloured clays. a backdrop of the huge, ochre- Neighbouring Fréjus, with its Roman Saint-Raphaël is also the gateway to Tcoloured Massif d’Estérel. Its striking heritage and archaeological museum, is France’s Grand Canyon, the Gorges du position may have attracted the fi rst an essential excursion. Here you can see Verdon. This gigantic canyon is 25km long holidaymakers, wealthy Romans coming the remains of the oldest Roman city in and up to 750m in depth. This ruggedly down from Fréjus to take the sea air. Gaul, founded by Julius Caesar in 49 BC. beautiful area offers great opportunities There are many beautiful 19th- and early The theatre, amphitheatre, aqueduct and for climbing, canyoning, rafting, canoeing, 20th century buildings, and some of the 5thcentury baptistry in the Cathédrale hiking and horseriding. medieval town still survives. The Notre St Léonce et Cloître is also the home of Dame de la Victoire de Lépante Basilica, the Archaeological Museum. And there’s Tel: +33 (0)4 94 95 11 19 built in the 19th century to accommodate the opportunity to learn about painting, Tel: [email protected] the newcomers, is a magnifi cent Roman pottery, glass-blowing and carpet- Byzantine pile, built in pink sandstone, with weaving in the town’s old quarter. rounded vaults and mosaics. On the way to Dramont, in the opposite The town has a historic past: Napoleon direction along the coast, is ‘La Corniche landed here in 1799 after his defeat at d’Or’ coastal road, which has been the Battle of the Nile. At the nearby voted the most scenic drive in France. Dramont beach, on 15 August 1944, In the foothills of the Alpes de Haute 20,000 US soldiers of the 36th Texas Provence, inland from St Raphaël, are the Regiment landed with tanks and heavy eight hilltop villages of Pays de Fayence. artillery to begin the liberation of the Their maze of lanes lead to castles and Provence region. churches, medieval monuments, Saracen- There are four golf courses to choose style gates and grand houses. They are from, and several scuba diving centres. home to a resurgence of Provençal And for the less physically active there is arts and crafts, especially pottery using also a casino. traditional techniques, designs and local Var Provence Cruise Club www.varprovence-cruise.com [email protected]

Special thanks to ADT Var, tourist boards and ports of the Var-Provence Cruise Club and le Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence (CIVP). Var Chamber of Commerce & Var General Council (C.G 83) Industry (C.C.I.V.) www.cg83.fr Photo credit: www.var.cci.fr ADT Var Tourisme / LCI, CCIV, CIVP. VAR TOURISME

PROVENCE - CÔTE D'AZUR CLONSEIL GENERA AGENCE DE DEVELOPPEMENT TOURISTIQUE

Var Tourist Board (ADT Var) Created and published by www.visitvar.fr Ashcroft & Associates Ltd www.ashcroftandassociates.com