Activities and where to go in the Var in southern Provence
Attention all adventure seekers! The islands of Porquerolles and Port-Cros offer fantastic excursion destinations. They are part of the Îles d'Hyères, a group of four islands belonging to the province of Var. Port-Cros offers a range of sporting activities: Hikes or mountain bike tours to special viewpoints on the island are very popular, for example to the Pointe du Cognet. Porquerolles also offers its visitors a number of different facets. The south is characterised by its steep cliffs and gorges that can only be reached by hikers, while the north of the island offers beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. Particularly beautiful destinations are the Moulin du Bonheur windmill or the Saint Anne church.
Despite its location, Toulon is a place that has not yet been discovered by tourism. Here you will find the true Provence. The markets smell of thyme and lavender and the sea air. Right next to the town are wonderful beaches and by ferry you can reach the IIles d'Hyeres including the natural underwater park around the island of Port-Cros, which you can discover by diving.
For hiking enthusiasts, a trip to the Masif de L'Esterel is worthwhile. To the east of Var, impressive rock formations of red volcanic rock rise up several hundred metres, a truly fantastic natural spectacle. Fréjus Cathedral is also close by. The associated baptistery was only rediscovered in 1925 and is an example of fine Merovingian architecture. Dating from the 5th century, it is the oldest building of Christian origin in Provence.