Page 120 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

118  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

uIles d’Hyères

The Iles d’Hyères, also known as the Golden Isles, are three
unspoilt islands, found 10 km (6 miles) off the Var coast – Hyères Le Lavandou
Porquerolles, Le Levant and Port-Cros. Their history has been
chequered due to their important strategic position: occu- Hyères-Plage
piers have included Greeks, Romans and Saracens, as well La Tour- Le Levant
Fondue
as ruthless pirates. Today the French Navy uses much of Le
Levant. Porquerolles, the largest island, is partly cultivated Porquerolles Port-Cros
with vineyards, but also has expanses of pine forest and
maquis. Both Porquerolles and Port-Cros are national parks, Locator Map
protected for their woodlands (including holm oak, strawberry
tree and myrtle), rare birds and rich underwater habitats.
Fort du Moulin, over-looking
Port-Cros Marine Life Port-Cros harbour
The wooded slopes of the island shelve down
into unpolluted sea, where colourful fish
swim among beds of Neptune grass.
A ready-planned swimming route
makes exploration easy.

Sponge alga
Codium bursa

Mermaid’s cup
Acetabularia
mediterranea

Bath sponge
Spongia officinalis

Neptune grass
Posidonia oceanica

Peacock’s tail
Padina pavonia
Sea peacock
Thalassoma pavo
Saupe Sarpa salpa

Moray eel
Sea urchins, Paracentrotous lividus Black goby Gobius niger Muraena helena
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp199–200 and pp211–12