Page 519 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

young Napoleon Bonaparte. lovely trio of islands can be around 300 m (984 ft); you
The impressive collection of reached by boat from Hyères, can buy a waterproof guide to
the Musée National de la Tour Fondue, Le Lavandou, the area’s underwater wildlife,
Marine explores its maritime La Croix Valmer, Cavalaire which will make exploring this
history. The Musée d’Art de and St Tropez. route even more enjoyable.
Toulon, housed in an Italian Porquerolles, the largest The wild, virtually treeless
Renaiss ance building, has of the three, measures 7 km Île du Levant is reached by
a collection repre senting (4 miles) by 2.5 km (1.5 miles). boat from Port­Cros. Its main
Fauvism, Minimalism and It is covered in rich vegetation, draw is the oldest naturist
Realism. In the Old Town few much of which – for instance resort in France, Héliopolis,
original buildings remain, the Mexican bellombra tree – founded in 1931. The eastern
but its fish market is worth was introduced from a variety half of the island, which is
a visit. For lovely views, take of exotic foreign climes. under the control of the
the boat trip around the bay The island’s main town, also French navy, is perma nently
and the cable car ride up to known as Porquerolles, has an closed to the public.
Mont Faron. appearance more like a North
African colonial settlement
Musée National de than a Provençal village. It was
la Marine established in 1820 as a retire­
"= ⌂ Pl Monsenergue ment town for Napoleon’s EAT
# 10am–6pm Mon & Wed– most honoured troops.
Sun ¢ Tue, 1 May, 25 Dec, Jan All the island’s beaches lie
∑ musee-marine.fr along the northern coastline, L’Escourtin
the best being the lengthy Idyllically located and
Musée d’Art de Toulon sands of Plage Notre­Dame. filled with antiques and
⌂ 113 blvd Mar Leclerc § 04 One of the finest beaches in flowers, the focus here
94 36 81 01 ¢ Closed for Provence, it sits in a sheltered is on fresh garden
restoration until end of 2019 bay about an hour’s walk from produce, game and
Porquerolles village. subtly sauced seafood.
A stroll around lush Port­ ! G6 ⌂ 159 ch de Notre
Dame des Cypres,
24 Cros, which covers 2.5 sq km Fayence ¢ Mid-Oct–
(1 sq mile), takes the best part
Îles d’Hyères of a day. It rises up to 195 m mid-Nov ∑ camandoule.
(640 ft), which is the highest com/en/restaurant-
! G7 ⌂ Var ~ Toulon- escourtin
Hyères £ @ g Hyères point on any of the islands. ¡¡¡
n Rotonde du Park Hôtel, Both Porquerolles and Port­
Cros have been designated as
ave de Belgique, Hyères;
www.hyeres-tourisme.com nation al parks for their unique Aubergine
reserves of flora and fauna, Excellent Provençale
Locally known as the Îles d’Or and their offshore waters are dishes, many based, as
(“Golden Islands”), after the also protected. There is even the name implies, on
gold colour of their cliffs, this a scenic swimming route of the aubergine.
! G6 ⌂ 7 rue Sade,
Antibes § 04 93 34 55
93 ¢ Wed
¡¡¡
Vague d’Or
Wild ingredients
foraged from the slopes
of the Massif des
Maures are paired with
local seafood and
organic produce from
their own garden.
! G6 ⌂ Plage de la
Bouillabaisse, St-Tropez
# vaguedor.com
¡¡¡
Porquerolles town on the island of the
same name, one of the Îles d’Hyères
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