Les Embiez, a wild island in the Var (Côte d'Azur)

The Embiez archipelago

Known as "Ile des Embiez" or simply "Les Embiez", this is in fact the Embiez archipelago.

A little Mediterranean jewel... It can be reached in just 10 minutes by taking a boat from Six-Fours-les-Plages. The archipelago is made up of five main islands:

tour Fondue island, also known as Embiez island, the largest and owned by Paul Ricard.
grand Rouveau island, which has a lighthouse and is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral;
ile du Petit Rouveau, reserved for a bird breeding area;
ile du Grand Gaou, the second largest island, which has been converted into a park and is linked to the mainland by a footbridge;
ile du Petit Gaou, now a peninsula in Le Brusc;

The archipelago also includes numerous islets such as La Cavelle and Les Magnons.

Just for fun, the main island of Les Embiez looks like two seahorses facing each other from the air. That's why the seahorse is now the island's symbol!

A natural haven of peace

If today you can visit the Embiez archipelago freely by boat from Six-Fours-les-Plages, Le Brusc to be precise, we owe this opportunity to a certain Paul Ricard, inventor of the famous aniseed-flavoured drink.

In the 1950s, Paul Ricard acquired the large island of the Embiez archipelago in Six-Fours-les-Plages (and the island of Bendor in Bandol). His aim was to make this little jewel available to as many people as possible, for holidays with family and friends and for convivial moments. As a lover of the sea, in 1966 he created the Oceanographic Institute (currently closed for renovation). And even if the desire to let everyone discover this little corner of paradise was one of the motivations of its founder, one desire stands out: to protect the archipelago's ecosystem.

Aware of the rarity and vulnerability of the island's flora and fauna, Paul Ricard immediately set out to preserve them by minimising urban development. Protected from concrete, car traffic on the island is very limited.

... and a determination to preserve it

As a member of the European Natura 2000 network, which brings together more than 1,700 French land and sea sites recognised for the rarity and fragility of their natural environments, "Ile des Embiez" has always been committed to protecting its environment and raising awareness of the eco-environmental consequences.

A nature trail has been set up to help visitors discover the island through themed panels, raising awareness of the need to protect this fragile ecosystem. The island's marina has been awarded the "Pavillon Bleu" (Blue Flag) label, as well as "Clean Port" and ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating its commitment to respecting the environment.

Since 2006, the island has also been the site of a number of initiatives aimed at preserving the island's ecosystem: selective sorting, a clean point, management of polluted water, reduction of energy consumption, awareness-raising among yachtsmen... Everything is done to ensure that this haven of natural peace endures, as its founder would have wanted, buried discreetly on the island, under a white stone facing the sea.

The island of Les Embiez, between land and sea

What strikes you once you arrive on the island of Les Embiez is the diversity of its flora and fauna. In a protected natural area of 950 square metres, all the biodiversity of the Mediterranean is represented, with 90% of the fauna and flora of our beautiful region found here. Situated one kilometre off the coast of Six-Fours-les-Plages, the varied natural landscapes follow one another as your eyes will wander from left to right. Fields of vines and garrigues, shady pine forests and wooded valleys, secret coves sheltered from the wind where yachtsmen love to bask, wild creeks, not forgetting the crystal-clear seabed and the beauty of the reefs that make the island an ideal diving spot for all enthusiasts... The island is a true compendium of the most beautiful things to be found in the Var, a natural haven that the region is striving to preserve .

Whether you're an enthusiast of nature walks or bike rides, a diver looking for new spots, or a yachtsman looking to get away from the crowds and noise, the island of Les Embiez, between land and sea, is a pearl in the middle of the sea.

What to do in Les Embiez

As well as being an exceptional place to stroll and contemplate, the island of Les Embiez is ideal for a wide range of sporting and cultural activities. If you'd like to take a tour of the island, you can hop on board the little train that will take you around the whole island on a pleasant and slow ride, or choose the option of exploring this natural setting on foot or by bike. You can hire mountain bikes, electric bikes or rosalies.

Tennis lessons are also available all year round, with the option of private tuition. For the more contemplative, the Institut Océanographique and the aquarium offer a panorama of Mediterranean underwater life, with around a hundred species of animals and plants: groupers, girelles, seahorses, lobsters, moray eels... And if you want to enjoy a good meal after your visit to the island, several small restaurants and brasseries offer their menus, often with typically Provençal and Mediterranean tastes and colours.

The aquarium, museum and shop at Fort Saint-Pierre are currently closed for an indefinite period for renovation works.

The island of Les Embiez is also an ideal spot for water sports and underwater activities. Nautic Passion takes advantage of the calm waters around the island to offer courses in paddle, kayak, pedalo and other above-water activities. And if you want to go a little deeper, dive into the crystal-clear water and discover the underwater life that lives here. A diving centre welcomes you in season to discover the beauty of the seabed and offers a range of services: first dives, technical dives, night dives, deep dives, wrecks or simply snorkelling..

Bendor island in Bandol

The island of Bendor is currently closed for a makeover!

After seventy years of activity, the island of Bendor must close its doors temporarily to begin its transformation. Through this project, Société Paul Ricard is committed to :

RESTORE this endangered jewel and bring it into line with the environmental requirements of our time.
PRESERVE its unique soul and turn it towards the future.
WELCOME the island's regular visitors and those who do not yet know it.
TO SHINE OVER the world by making Bendor a new standard of Var hospitality.

The island will be closed to the public for the duration of the works. Reopening is scheduled for 2026.

To follow the progress of the project, go to: www.iledebendor.com