Le Lavandou City Ofdolphins and Whales Good Reasons to Come to Le Lavandou
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Press kit Press Le Lavandou CITY OF DOLPHINS AND WHALES Tourism office #MyLavandou good reasons TO COME TO LE LAVANDOU Recharge your batteries • 12 fine sandy beaches • Hiking trails between land and sea • A preserved nature Reach the open sea • Sea excursions towards the Golden Isles • Catamaran trips • Many nautical activities Discover • Art Center, Villa Theo and the Painter’s trail • Wineries and the apiculturist • The village and its 14 fountains Enjoy • Provencal markets • Gastronomy • Provencal art of living 2 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE contents 12 beaches, 12km coastline . 4 Good to know in Le Lavandou . 5 The seaside . 8 Le Lavandou’s international harbour. 11 On land . 12 A preserved heritage . 14 Local specialities and crafts . 17 Gastronomy and art of living . 18 Getting to Le Lavandou . 19 www.ot-lelavandou.fr #MyLavandou LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE // 3 AUTHENTIC FISHERMAN’S VILLAGE 12 beaches over 12 km coastline This former fishing village features no less than 12 kilometres of coast and 12 sandy beaches, all of different colours. Its fountain itinerary (the town is also home to 14 fountains) is a good way to get to know the resort and appreciate its welcoming quality lifestyle. In the heart of the village, along shaded alleys in granite pavements, you will meet with local people and find some local arts & crafts boutiques. Stopping by the “Place Reyer” square, you will be able to see the local people playing their favourite game: “La pétanque” and drinking a fresh glass of Rosé! Walking towards the marina where the local traditional fishing boats “pointus” are still moored, you will have a feeling of an indescribable wellbeing. The small population of Lavandourains only take delight in one thing: welcoming people from all over the world, offering the best gold that can be found in the whole world: the sunshine and the sea! 4 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE Good to know IN LE LAVANDOU • Region • Var / 83 • Average temperatures • Summer 23°C • Surface area • 29.65 km² Winter 12°C • Population • 5592 inhabitants • Twinning • • Inhabitant • Lavandourain(e)s City of Kronberg in Germany • Why the name « Le Lavandou »? • Even if Le Lavandou is similar to the word Lavender, the name’s origin comes from the provencal language “Lavadou” which means “Lavoir” (washing place in French). Le Lavandou probably means “the place where fishermen’s wives used to come and wash laundry.” Quality labels • « Flowered cities and villages »: 4 flowers. • Mark of Quality TM for the tourist office • « Tourism Resort » award in 2017. of Le Lavandou.. • « Label Pavillon Bleu d’Europe »: • Pélagos charter: An international agreement- reward for beach quality between France, Italy and Monaco. Le Lavandou • « Label Pavillon Bleu and Clean Ports ». signed the Pélagos charter which aims at pro- tecting the Mediterranean marine mammals. Some figures Saint-Clair La Fossette HAN Aiguebelle T 300 Cavalière istrict days of sun ORE acres 7907 D Pramousquier 5 M per year 1 International harbour with 1021 boat places LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE // 5 A RESORT WITH 12 beaches and 12 sands Hiden and wild coves or long sandy beaches. Each of them has a different type of sand: a different size of grain and also various colours like grey, yellow and white with several shades. They all invite you to take it easy, to do some nautical and underwater activities. Plage de l’Anglade Grande plage du Lavandou Plage de Saint-Clair Plage de la fossette Le Lavandou has been rewarded “Label Pavillon bleu” every year since 1997 thanks to the quality of the beaches and water. 6 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE Plage d’Aiguebelle Plage de Jean Blanc Plage de l’Éléphant Plage du Rossignol Plage du Layet Plage de Cavalière Plage du Cap Nègre Plage de Pramousquier LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE // 7 The seaside On the water, in the water or underwater, make the most of this superb playground. Just climb on board! The Vedettes Iles d’or Company based in Le Lavandou offers many types of excursions. Day trips to the Golden Isles • Port-Cros : the wildest, a paradise for hikers. • Le Levant : only a tenth of the island is accessible to the public, the other part is under military control. • Porquerolles : this island is the perfect place for the nature lovers. More than 60 km of paths, tracks and marked trails for cyclists and walkers. Daily crossing throughout the year towards Port-Cros and Le Levant and from April to October towards Porquerolles. 8 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE Naturalists output to the cetaceans Respecting the environment, the Vedettes Iles d’or company offers an unforget- table meeting with the Mediterran- nean Sea Mammals: dolphins, toothed whales, rorquals, black globicephals... Meeting at the sunrise for departure, it is a 4 to 5 hours sailing trip to Cap Camarat or Le Levant and Porquerolles islands. Everything is put in place to give you the chance to see them : the cetaceans are spotted by a plane. The crew invites you to scan the sea in case of water move- ments or cetaceans fins around. A naturalist guide, specialist of the ceta- ceans is also on board to teach you many insteresting facts about these marvellous widl animals. Commented cruise to Saint-Tropez Along the preserved coastline, discover the wild coast, the peninsula and the villas of the celebrities. The Seascope Discover the sea life aboard a trimaran of underwater observation. The central transparent hull offers the opportunity to discover the extraordinary underwater world of our Mediterranean sea. LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE // 9 Catamaran trips Discover the preserved Massif des Maures coastline, take a swim in secret coves, sail to the Golden Isles… With family, friends or couples, for those who prefer to go on a small group trip, two companies offer catamaran trips with professional skippers. Watersports activities • Waterski/ wakeboard schools • Sailing schools • Scuba-diving schools • Paragliding and jet ski clubs • Several rental boat agencies • Sport-fishing club 10 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE LE LAVANDOU’S international harbour In the morning, on the old harbor, the « pescadous » comes in their Pointus, tradionnal fishing boats filled with local fish. Since 1983, the port has expended and modernized to welcome sailing boats and bigger pleasure boats. 1021 boat places Port of call Member of the Var Provence Cruise Club (union of 12 ports in Var region), Le Lavandou’s harbor is welcoming prestigious cruise ships. Personalised welcome (aboard and on the quay with an employee from the tourist office, provençal folklore demonstration, wine tasting of local rosé…) for the cruise passengers. LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE // 11 On land Le Lavandou is also a preserved environment. There are many walks where you can discover beautiful scenery and meet exceptional wildlife and plant life close up. Discover the walks. 12 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE Coastal path Stroll along the coastal path from the Main beach to La Fossette beach. An easy path through the rocks on the water’s edge gives access to the beautiful beach of Saint -Clair. You can walk to La Fossette, an idyllic creek in the heart of the pine trees. All along the 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) you will find boards giving informa- tion on the local culture, wildlife and plant life. Cavalière’s Balconies route of hike Cavalière’s Balconies invite you to dis- cover Cavaliere’s magnificent site along 12 km of trail. Come to take advan- tage of pleasant moment in family or between friends the time of half a day! Bicycle path Enjoy a bicycle ride along the 7 km cycle path and be amazed by the beautiful Mediter- ranean landscapes. Before being dedicated to the cyclists, this path used to be the first railway connecting Toulon to Saint Raphaël by the train. Nowadays, the « Touristic Litt- le Beach Train » drives commented tours through this path. LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE // 13 LE LAVANDOU a preserved heritage On the 25th May 1913, Le Lavandou became an independent municipality of Bormes, the first fishing harbour in the Var with 150 pescadous (fishermen) ori- ginally from Genoa and Catalonia. Saint-Clair Chapel Built in 1668, the small chapel of Saint-Clair was an important cult place for the inhabitants of le Lavandou who came very often to pray in front of Saint-Clair bust. He is the ecclesiastical pa- tron of the dressmakers, said to be able to cure Saint-Louis Church people of blindness. But the small chapel was not safe from time and events and was declared Built in 1855 and damaged during world national propriety in 1789. Later, the govern- war two, the Saint Louis Church has been ment told people that it was falling in ruins. In transformed throughout the years. The 1905, its owner made it razed to build a cottage! bell tower has been replaced thanks to But in 1996 a new chapel was built close to the Father Hélin, local member of the French first place, and a copy of Saint-Clair bust was resistance. created. The bonds with the past were taken up again. Since then, every year in September, The choir has been renovated with the inhabitants of le Lavandou and the tourists handmade fresco painted by the artist are invited to revive this old custom, this is the Jean-Baptiste Garrigou in 2009. “Romérage” celebration. 14 // LE LAVANDOU TOURISM OFFICE The Fountains The fountain symbolizes life and you will find them in each village of Provence. In Le Lavan- dou, we have 14 fountains that distil the water as a welcoming offering. Discover them while strolling in the cobblestones streets of the old village. The Castle You can find it on all old post cards.