Toulon harbour

" The most beautiful harbour in Europe ", according to Vauban. Since then, the centuries have passed and the city has developed, but the site of the Rade de Toulon remains magnificent. The harbour is surrounded by high white limestone hills where umbrella pines perch, contrasting with the blue of the sea. Take the cable car up to the top of Mont-Faron to admire the panorama.
To the west of Toulon, La Seyne and the imposing Cap Sicié massif close off the Toulon roadstead, with the pretty Saint-Mandrier peninsula to the south.
The large jetty, built by the convicts at the end of the 19th century, can be seen flush with the water. It marks the entrance to the "Petite Rade", home to pretty coves and unspoilt beaches, dotted with small fishing ports such as Port du Manteau on the corniche de Tamaris.

The "Grande Rade" includes the wide beaches of Mourillon and the pretty coves of Méjean and Magaud.
Used since ancient times by Greek and Roman ships, it is now home to the military port of Toulon, France's main naval base alongside Brest.

• Mont Faron is the best known of the five mountains. Overlooking Toulon, it offers a breathtaking view of the harbour. You can take the cable car up to the top to visit the D-Day Memorial or the zoo (a breeding centre for felines).
• The Baou, with its imposing rocky outcrop, is one of the region's leading rock-climbing sites.
• Le Coudon, to the east, marks the separation between the Toulon conurbation and the valleys and agricultural plains of Le Gapeau and La Crau.
• The "Gros Cerveau" ("Big brain"), to the west, marks the boundary between Ollioules and Sanary. It offers superb views of both the coastline and the Sainte-Baume Massif.
• Mont-Caume is the highest of the five mountains. Located at the back of the limestone massif, at 801 metres it towers above the other four mounts.

The Naval Base, or "Arsenal", is a city within a city. More than 500 years after its creation, the arsenal covers 268 hectares and employs nearly 12,000 people! It is home to around thirty Naval Action Force vessels, including the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier.

The naval base is not open to the public, but can be explored on guided tours of the harbour by boat all year round, or on a mini-train in summer.

A little history... The first crews for the King's ships were formed in 1490. Over the centuries, new docks were added, considerably increasing the size of the military port. It was during the last extensions under the Third Republic that Toulon became the leading military port in the Mediterranean and home to the Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture.