Bay of Toulon

Toulon, Ollioules, La Seyne-sur-Mer and Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer form one of Europe's most beautiful bays, bordered by high, chalky hills topped with umbrella pines. Sea and mountain live side by side here in perfect harmony. Toulon and Mont Faron mountain are situated at the entrance to the bay. The low dike that can be seen on the horizon was built by convicts and marks the end of the "Grande Rade" (outer bay) and the entrance to the "Petite Rade" (inner bay). La Seyne-sur-Mer and the Massif du Cap Sicié lie at the back of the bay. The view over Toulon's military port from the coast road running along Tamaris, home to many mussel farms, is simply superb. Set at the other tip of the bay, facing Toulon, is the Saint-Mandrier peninsula. Toulon and its bay are home to France's largest military port. The city of Toulon has been a strategic military site for several hundred years and its ancient defence system is extremely interesting: - the adjacent coast is lined with forts, some of which , like Fort Balaguier or the impressive Tour Royale can be visited. The Tour Royale is also a concert venue, - various additional forts, built on the hilltops bordering the bay, go to complete the defence system. The "Petite Rade" (inner bay) offers a series of pretty coves and wild beaches, interspersed with little fishing villages such as the Port du Manteau in Tamaris. The vast Mourillon beaches and fishermen's houses in the creeks of Méjean and Magaud are located in the "Grande Rade" (outer bay).