Toulon, France cruises
Toulon has associations with the French Navy that can be traced back to 1494 when Charles VIII established a naval shipyard here in the embrace of its natural harbour. It remains the home port of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier; models of this and ships throughout the ages can be found at the National Naval Museum, which was founded a century ago. Against today’s harbour backdrop of colourful fishing boats, sleek yachts and larger vessels you can still find the historic docks and workshops of Porte de l'Arsenal that have been here since 1738.
Several streets back from the water, in Place Victor Hugo, you’ll find the majestic Opera House, with grand columns and statues of Tragedy and Comedy on the façade. Toulon Cathedral might be another on your ‘to do’ list. Imposing outside it’s equally impressive within, not least its wonderfully ornate retable, a detailed panel behind the altar filled with figures in relief. In this part of the Old Town, you’ll also stumble across several fountains and can browse your way along the daily morning market on the Cours Lafayette.
For a near-bird’s-eye overview of Toulon, a cable car ride can carry you serenely up the side of Mount Faron. At the summit gaze peacefully across the city, its harbour and the Mediterranean beyond.
While Toulon itself has plenty to capture your attention, it could instead open the door to towns and resorts across Provence. Head for the former spa resort of Aix-en-Provence, for example, which still bubbles with fountains; the remarkable Atelier Cézanne contains everyday objects which famously filled the artist’s canvases. Or venture to Avignon, after whose popes the Châteauneuf du Pape wines are named.
Hyères, between Marseille and Nice, is an absolute gem, and one of the oldest of the Côte d’Azur resorts. In its medieval Old Town, wander along atmospheric alleys ablaze with bright flowers, crowned by the grandeur of the Knights Templar Tower and its concentric city walls.
St Tropez has become synonymous with Côte d’Azur chic. First came the artists, and works by Matisse reside in the museum of art. Over the decades, the A-listers followed. Tall waterside houses line up with façades of dusky yellows and oranges, gleaming yachts bob lazily in the marina, and the narrow cobbled lanes of the old town make a pleasant place to stroll.
How about venturing offshore? From Toulon’s harbour you could take a boat across to the Île de Porquerolles, the largest of the unspoiled Îles d'Or where sheltered coves and secluded beaches are sure to delight.