Porquerolles island, a Mediterranean jewel

Porquerolles: an island of Hyères with many assets

Discover the island of Porquerolles and its must-sees

Haven't you heard of theisland of Porquerolles, one of the jewels of the Mediterranean?

And yet... there are so many things to do on the island of Porquerolles! This is where you'll find some of the most beautiful beaches in the Var, such as Plage d'Argent and Plage de Notre Dame. It's here that you can explore some exceptional diving sites, or visit the Fort Saint Agathe and the Moulin du Bonheur. A nature destination par excellence, it's on the island of Porquerolles that you can visit the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen and the Maison du Parc, to learn all about the island's complex ecosystems and its seabed. Here you can browse the impressive contemporary art collection at the Villa Carmignac or sample the vintages of the island's centuries-old wine estates.

So, what are you waiting for to make your crossing to Porquerolles?

The Provencal village of Porquerolles and its heritage vestiges

You disembark on the island of Porquerolles on one of the maritime shuttles, on a quay fringed with imposing Canary palm trees. A church with a Mexican flavour dominates the village square, hemmed in by giant eucalyptus trees, around which café terraces and simple, flower-filled houses wrap themselves happily. Perched on a promontory, Fort Sainte Agathe, with its squat silhouette, stands guard. Built under François 1er around 1531, it is listed in the Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques. Next to it is the pretty Moulin du Bonheur, which has been completely restored. It is now the pride of the island of Porquerolles. The mill is open every day of the week from May to the end of September. For further information, visit Fort Sainte Agathe, the Porquerolles Information Office and the Hyères Tourist Office.

Discover the destination website

The majestic Porquerolles lighthouse, 84 metres above sea level and with its white light illuminating a range of 54 km, is one of the most powerful lighthouses in the Mediterranean. However, its enclosure is not open to the public. This is the case for many of the monuments that make up the network of fortifications on the island of Porquerolles, such as the Batteries des Mèdes at the eastern end of the island, Fort de la Repentance, Fort de l'Alycastre and the island forts of Petit-Langoustier and Grand-langoustier at the western end of the island (for more information, go to Forts et batteries à Porquerolles).

Most of these sites are open during the European Heritage Days.

As for tourist establishments on the island of Porquerolles, such as hotels, restaurants and activity providers, we invite you to discover them in our " Providers and activities " tab. Among the wide variety of establishments on the island is the Mas du Langoustier, a historic establishment on the island, now renowned for its gourmet cuisine and incomparable atmosphere. The establishment is run by one of the daughters of François-Joseph Fournier, a former owner of the island in the early 20th century who contributed to its fame and development.

Fort du Petit Langoustier à Porquerolles

To discover...

Hyères

Le mas du Langoustier

The beaches of Porquerolles

On the island of Porquerolles, walk or cycle along paths lined with pine, myrtle and heather, swim with schools of pearly fish, walk with your feet in the azure water or simply escape... Here, wild cliffs and coves, long golden beaches languishing at the edge of pine forests, valleys fringed with vineyards, the gurgling and chirping of migratory birds await you. Of all the beauty the island of Porquerolles has to offer, Plage d'Argent, Plage du Langoustier and Plage de Notre Dame stand out for their elegance, so much so that some consider them to be the "most beautiful beaches in Europe", making Porquerolles one of the most beautiful destinations in the Mediterranean. In 2017, New York Times journalist Ingrid K. Williams ranked Porquerolles ^18th out of 52 destinations worldwide, with the special mention: "Beach, pétanque, pastis: perfect".

Plage de Notre Dame - ile de Porquerolles

To discover...

Cultural activities in Porquerolles

The Carmignac Foundation and the Jazz Festival

Porquerolles may be one of France's natural heritage hotspots, but the island also stands out culturally for its many activities. The Fondation Carmignac is a refreshingly original exhibition space. The Villa Carmignac, which you can visit barefoot to get a better feel for the place, features exceptional works by leading contemporary artists. If you'd like to immerse yourself in the imaginary world of the Villa Carmignac, take a look at the video presentation.

The most important cultural event on the island of Porquerolles is the " Jazz à Porquerolles " festival, created in 2002 by jazz musician Franck Cassenti, who was looking for a venue to match the fame of his jam sessions. Porquerolles was the obvious choice, joining the ranks of legendary Mediterranean jazz venues by bringing together some of today's greatest jazzmen on the island for an entire week. It's a chance to take a deep breath, change your perception, and indulge in the "Jazz on Porquerolles Island" experience, which lets you listen to music from a place of silence.

Fondation Carmignac - que faire sur l’île de Porquerolle

©La Fondation Carmignac – centre d’art contemporain – île de Porquerolles

The historic vineyards of the island of Porquerolles

Wine and viticulture have been part of Porquerolles' DNA ever since it was acquired by François-Joseph Fournier in 1911, who planted 170 hectares of vines on its four natural, sandy plains. These hectares of vines were not cultivated by the Fourniers, as they were used as firebreaks. After the State bought the island, these hectares were entrusted to "partners" by the Port-Cros National Park, created in 1971, who were responsible for running them as wine estates while respecting the framework imposed by the National Park. There are currently two wine estates on the island: Domaine de l'île and La Courtade. The terroir of Porquerolles, mottled with age-old schist, gives the wine a delicious flavour. The sunshine, the proximity of the sea, the choice of grape varieties linked to Provence and the delicate work in the vineyard all combine to create an exceptional wine. The three estates produce red, rosé and white AOC Côtes de Provence wines.

Domaine de l' île" is located on the historic wine-growing site of Porquerolles, between Plage d'Argent and the Brégançonnet cove. Until the early 2000s, it was managed by Sébastien Le Ber, a descendant of the Fourniers, before he sold the property to the CHANEL fashion house, which now makes "sun-drenched, breezy wines" here.
La Courtade " is certainly the most famous estate on the island. It was founded in 1983 on the initiative of local architect Henri Vidal, who from the outset farmed the 35 hectares of vines organically. The Vidal children were unable to cope with the workload imposed by the estate, so it was sold to the Carmignac Foundation in 2013, then bought by Edouard Carmignac in 2014. Edouard Carmignac has big plans: to double production by 2021 and, above all, to create a unique cultural complex: the Villa Carmignac and the Domaine de la Courtade are now two symbols of the island of Porquerolles.

©Vignes et domaine viticoles sur l’île de Porquerolles

Porquerolles, an island protected by the Port-Cros National Park

The Port-Cros National Park, an institution serving the heritage of the island of Porquerolles

The island of Porquerolles now forms a large part of the "heart of the park" of the Port-Cros National Park. This integration reinforces the many measures taken to ensure that visitors respect the island's environment: motorised traffic is banned (only a few professionals are allowed to have a vehicle - hotels, wineries, etc.), fishing is highly regulated, lighting fires or camping are not permitted, etc. The aim is to limit the number of visitors to the island. The aim is to limit the impact of human activity on existing ecosystems. This desire to protect the environment is reflected in the foundations of the Esprit parc national brand, which is dedicated to highlighting people who respect the environment and the conditions in which they carry out their duties within a National Park!

The Esprit parc national brand is used by France's National Parks to reconcile economic and ecological objectives around environmentally-friendly tourism practices.

©Esprit Parc National Port-Cros

Thanks to this brand, you can take part in a range of nature activities, such as an enriching 2.5-hour botanical walk with Vincent Blondel, a naturalist guide, who will show you all the riches of this natural heritage. We invite you to take a look at the outings offered by " Les balades de Charlotte ". You can also call on Fernando Sandoval, a mid-mountain guide, who offers a wide range of themed outings. If you ask a guide, naturalist or otherwise, to accompany you on your excursions, you can be sure of a privileged moment with a connoisseur of the island and its beauty.

We invite you to take a look at the Esprit Parc National brand offers from top-quality service providers, who are often benchmarks in their field, for accommodation, restaurants, crafts, leisure activities and the organisation of complete holidays. If you want to practise responsible and virtuous tourism, we strongly advise you to contact these service providers.

You can discover Porquerolles by bike as a leisure activity. Cycle Porquerollais, a company that has always been committed to preserving the island of Porquerolles and its natural ecosystems, offers bike hire and supervised outings on Porquerolles.

The Var is an ideal destination for cycle-touring enthusiasts, with many service providers holding the "Accueil Vélo" label and exceptional itineraries for all levels, from the coast to the Verdon: coastal cycle routes, the Estérel massif, the Maures massif, the Sainte-Baume massif, the Ile des Embiez, the heart of the Var, the Verdon... Whether on a mountain bike, a road bike or an electric bike, come and explore the Var by bike, for a gentle journey through breathtaking scenery.

If you'd like to find out more about the various cycling and tourism offers in the South of France, visit our dedicated page: Cycling in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur.

Exceptional flora and fauna

All the flora and fauna on the island of Porquerolles is protected. A great deal of scientific work is carried out to monitor the development of ecosystems and the evolution of symbolic species such as the Grouper and the Great Mother-of-Pearl. This is largely thanks to the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porquerolles, which was set up on 15 February 1979, and whose main mission is to inventory the flora and natural and semi-natural habitats in collaboration with teams of scientists to combat the impoverishment of the Mediterranean's genetic heritage.

The best way to discover the natural beauty of the island of Porquerolles is to go for a walk. You can criss-cross the island on specially adapted footpaths, taking your time to appreciate the detail and richness of the Mediterranean landscapes and colours. These trails can be explored on foot and/or by bike, depending on the terrain. They will enable you to explore the whole island and discover all its secrets. We suggest you take a look at the walks offered as part of Le Var, La Semaine Nature (late September - early October), particularly " Lumières de Porquerolles ", which offers a complete tour of the island.

Tourism on the island of Porquerolles

Tourism on Porquerolles must be practised in a sensible way, showing great respect for the island, its ecosystem and its inhabitants. This is how the island's beauty is best appreciated. Find out about the best practices to adopt from the Maison du Parc de Porquerolles, and remember that the best thing to do is to enjoy the island's natural heritage without leaving any trace (see the Leave No Trace movement).

Porquerolles, like all the forests of the Var, is subject to the risk of fire. For this reason, from mid-June to mid-September, access is restricted. On windy days, access to the forest areas of the îles d'Or may be closed to the general public. In such cases, you can still wander around the village, visit the Fort Saint-Agathe and the Moulin du Bonheur, enjoy the beaches of Notre Dame and the Plage d'Argent, or discover the art exhibitions at the Villa Carmignac. For a map of access to the massifs, visit the Var prefecture website.

The island of Porquerolles is subject to heavy visitor traffic during the summer months. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the busiest days. We recommend that you travel to Porquerolles at the weekend, when you'll have more peace and quiet. And if you want more privacy, much of the coastline of the Porquerolles National Park area offers similar scenery to that of Porquerolles, so don't hesitate to try new, less-frequented spots. For example, the Presqu'île de Giens opposite Porquerolles is less frequented and boasts some real gems in terms of natural heritage, such as Pointe Escampobariou. But the best way to discover the island of Porquerolles in optimum conditions is to come in the off-season, in late spring or early autumn, for example.

Faire du vélo sur l’île de Porquerolles dans le Var

Getting to the island of Porquerolles

The crossing from Hyères takes around twenty minutes, with the shuttle departing from the Tour Fondue site on the Presqu'île de Giens. The crossing to Porquerolles can take up to an hour from Toulon or Le Lavandou.

The link with the mainland is vital for the island, and the maritime shuttles of the TLV shipping company are obliged to provide the public service of territorial continuity all year round.

Other companies, based in communes along the Var coast, offer crossings to the island of Porquerolles: Bateliers de la Rade, Vedettes Iles d'Or and Bateliers de la Côte d'Azur. Throughout the year, boats provide access to the island of Porquerolles from various ports on the Var coast: Hyères, Le Lavandou, Toulon, La Londe, Saint-Raphaël, etc

During the summer season, there are far more frequent services than the rest of the year, with an average of two to three departures per hour, particularly from the port of La Tour Fondue, on the Giens peninsula, which is the main access point to the island of Porquerolles. During the summer months, there are frequent traffic jams on the Hyères road leading to the Tour Fondue. We advise you to be patient and think ahead when parking your vehicle. You can also leave your vehicle at the car park at the Arromanches roundabout (entrance to the port of Hyères) and take the shuttle bus to the Tour Fondue.

If you're looking for a more unusual crossing, book a water taxi and you'll have a real taste of the sea. Espace Mer and Le Pélican are long-established service providers with extensive sailing experience.

Tour Fondue pour se rendre sur l’ile de Porquerolles

Ports, boats and maritime shuttles

Hyères

Taxi boat island - Espace Mer

Porquerolles and the Hyères islands: practical information

For all the information you need for your crossing and your day or stay on the island, please visit the " maritime shuttles " page of the Hyères tourist office. There you will find additional practical information to help you plan your stay on Porquerolles and the Hyères islands.

The shuttles and boats to Porquerolles will enable you to discover an exceptional setting and take advantage of all the activities on the island. Beaches, nature parks, walks, museums, sunny aperitifs and wineries to visit..

We suggest you check the weather conditions before planning your trip. To do this, you can visit Météo France d'Hyères or Météo Marine Porquerolles, which are the best references in the field.

Don't hesitate to discover one of the three islands of Hyères!