From the Hyères islands to the Embiez archipelago via Carqueiranne, Toulon, Ollioules… Set off to discover the 12 Lands of Provence in the Mediterranean! A multifaceted territory with its art trails, its lush vegetation and its towns and villages guaranteeing Provençal culture.
–
The 12 lands, the beating heart of Provence
Here, the heart of Provence beats with its preserved natural spaces, its traditions, its markets, its wild creeks and its fine sandy beaches, its islands and its forest massifs. An extraordinary heritage spread across the twelve lands of Provence, from Hyères to Six-Fours Les Plages via the islands, the hinterland and the astonishing city of Toulon!
In the historic center of Toulon, around rue Pierre Semard, unfolds a whole creative district dotted with concept stores, galleries and workshops. A walk to combine with a stop at the very colorful Cours Lafayette market. At the merchant’s caravan, you can savor the cade, this chickpea galette cooked over a wood fire. On the sea side, we are happy to stop in the Mourillon district with the air of a small Provençal village with its beaches and green spaces.
Change of scenery in Hyères, garden city, which hosts the first cut flower market in France! The city owes its reputation to its 4 remarkable gardens strewn with rare species brought back in the 19th century by passionate botanists. Among them ; the Castel Saint-Claire park which overlooks the medieval city or the Saint-Bernard park of the Villa Noailles, art center and setting of the International Fashion and Photography Festival.
Inland, do not miss a visit to Revest-les-Eaux, a village perched at the foot of Mont Caume, known to hikers and climbers. The charming village of Ollioules is home to the Maison du Patrimoine de la Métropole, a superb private mansion that offers an immersion in local history.
From islands to islands, a beautiful getaway in the Mediterranean
The first terrestrial and marine park in Europe, the Port-Cros National Park is accessible a few minutes by boat from the Giens peninsula. A peninsula otherwise famous for its Salin des Pesquiers, a former salt marsh of 550 hectares colonized by 70 species of birds including pink flamingos and herons. Pearl of the Mediterranean, the island of Port-Cros can be explored on foot on 30 km of marked trails which run along a crystal clear sea. And Porquerolles is not to be outdone with its dream beaches such as the Plage d’Argent or the Plage Notre Dame, which can be reached by mountain bike along the 4 marked routes. Here, the Carmignac Foundation exhibits contemporary works of art.
Departing from Six-Fours-les-Plages, the Embiez archipelago, classified as a Natura 2000 Zone, is a call to disconnect. The wild Eden, carpeted with pine forest, concentrates 90% of the natural species of the Mediterranean. Just opposite, the island of Gaou, which is worth the detour, in the extension of the port of Brusc, is accessible by a pedestrian bridge. Finally, it is during the summer season that you can attend a traditional show on the peninsula of Saint-Mandrier, with the famous Provençal jousts!
Les 12 Terres, a nature destination, a world of experiences
A real curiosity, the Mont Faron cable car connects the city center of Toulon to the top of the mountain! The view of the harbor of Toulon is phenomenal from this island of nature. The Forest of Janas, to the south-east of the Cap Sicié massif, is full of walks, including the one that leads to the sanctuary of Notre-Dame-du-Mai, built in 1625. For swimming, don’t miss the beach of the Almanarre, 5 km long, a spot for kite surfers and windsurfers located close to the archaeological site of Olbia, a fortified city founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC.
www.tourismeprovencemediterranee.com
–
