Bay of Toulon

The bay of Toulon is one of the best and safest natural anchorages on the Mediterranean, and one of the largest harbors in Europe. As a result, it has been a large military harbor since the 17th century, with a major French naval base remaining today. A big and busy city, Toulon hosts a large marina, and features an interesting historic center located by the port, with a pedestrian area, narrow streets, small squares and many fountains. Visitors will find numerous shops and restaurants and some hidden architectural treasures. To the east part of town is Le Mourillon, a small seaside neighborhood popular for its sheltered sandy beaches. Another attraction is to go on top of Mount Faron (by cable car), to enjoy a spectacular view of the bay. Across the harbor from the port of Toulon, are the small fishing towns of Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer and La Seyne sur Mer, now home to several Superyacht shipyards and service related businesses. Just like Marseille and La Ciotat, Toulon Bay has rapidly become a major destination for yacht maintenance and refit work. Last but not least, the region has excellent train and bus connections, as well as ferry services to Corsica and Sardinia, and the Toulon/international airport at neighboring Hyères.