DESCRIPTION

Toulon is the home port of the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, and also the main port serving Corsica. Despite having many military bases, the town has managed to develop its service sector. It has even been awarded the Blue Flag European label for the excellent quality of its seawater. In addition to the seaside resort, the town has a great cultural heritage. Baron Haussmann was prefect of the Var and accordingly the upper part of Toulon’s became an area considered by the visionary architect as ripe for experiment. Before getting busy in Paris on the orders of Napoleon the III, he extended the town of Toulon. He also asked Garnier to assist him in the construction of an opera house. The historic building was a test for Garnier before embarking on the construction of the famous Opéra Garnier in Paris.

HISTORY

First called Telo Martius, the town of Toulon was founded by various peoples arriving from the sea, such as the Ligurians and the Greeks. It was first used as a place for trade and swiftly became the focal-point for many conflicts. Placed under Roman protection like the rest of the region, the town first made its name for its dyeworks producing purple, a colour obtained from murex, molluscs found in Toulon harbour. Pillaged and ravaged by wars and piratical attacks, the town started to build fortifications in 1197. Martial fleets then made their quarters in the port which today remains the principal military port of Europe. As a strategic location, nestling between the mountains and harbour, it enabled warships to be concealed and protected. Increasingly, Toulon was jealously eyed as a target. The town resisted Hispanic invaders but fell to the English. In 1793, the town was renamed the «Port de la Montagne», eventually ending up with its original name. Napoleon Bonaparte retook Toulon for France thereby earning his stripes as brigadier general. In August, 1944, the landings effected the town’s liberation. Toulon then began to experience intense development and managed to accommodate both military and tourist activities. Its seaside resort has welcomed such visitors as George Sand and Frédéric Chopin.

ENTERTAINMENT

As with any other large city, Toulon puts on its share of shows and festivals. Of note is the classical music festival: Festival Estival, Toulon Rythmestival, a free concert which takes place on a square in the neighbourhood, and the Festival Jazz de Toulon (jazz festival), etc.

LEISURE

Toulon’s coastline provides many pleasant walks by which to enjoy the sea and the Southern sun, including the following walks to various coves: Promenade à l’Anse de la Source, promenade à l’Anse des Pins, promenade à l’Anse du Lido, promenade à l’Anse Mistral and promenade à l’Anse Tabarly. Then visitors can go and shop at the market in town. One of the better known is marché du cours Lafayette, but there are also organic markets, such as the marché bio du Mourillon and the marché du Pont du Las. When strolling through the town, you can explore the upper Haussmannian part with its Place de la Liberté, the Tour de l’horloge (clock tower) or Tour Carré (square tower). Built within the enclosure of the arsenal itself, this was a lookout tower. The town has many churches : Eglise Saint-François de Paule, Eglise Saint-Louis, Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de la Seds…
As for museums, you can visit the Figurines Museum, the Museum of Old Toulon, the Memorial Museum to the Landings in Toulon, the National Naval Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Asian Art Museum.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

Toulon is located in the department of Var of which it is the prefecture. Nearby are the towns of Sanary-sur-Mer, Six-Fours-les-Plages, La Seyne-sur-Mer and Hyères, etc. Further to the East, are Saint-Tropez, Fréjus and Cannes.

By air :
Toulon-Hyères Airport is located around 20 kms from the town of Toulon, in the district of Hyères. Flights departing from Hyères head mainly for France and Europe. The nearest international airports are at Nice (90km) and Marseille (70km).

By road :
The town of Toulon is located between two motorways. The western one, the A50, heads for Marseilles. The eastern one, the A57, goes towards Hyères and Nice.
There is also an entire network of departmental roads.
By train :
SNCF station: Both the TGV and the TER stop at Toulon railway station.
By sea :
The maritime terminal makes it possible to reach towns in the vicinity by sea. Similarly, you can visit Sardinia, and Toulon is the main departure port for Corsica.

See all Hotels in Toulon.