Attractions and Places To See around La Valette-Du-Var - Top 20

A true gateway to the historic Arsenal

The harbor is one of Toulon's most emblematic sites. It includes the small harbor, which houses the military port, the marina, and the ferry terminal, as well as the large harbor, a coastal strip stretching from the Tour Royale to Cap Brun. Thanks to its exceptional natural environment (the hills surround the city and overlook the harbor), Toulon has become the only harbor to combine maritime and land defenses. This military heritage of forts, towers, and other fortresses, combined with the historic presence of the Arsenal, now known as the naval base, today provides the opportunity to tell great stories of strategy, battles, and the Revolution. All year round, the boatmen located at the port offer guided tours of the most beautiful harbor in Europe: the naval base and buildings of the French Navy, the marine cemetery, the port of La Seyne-sur-Mer and the former shipyards, the Tamaris corniche, Lazaret Bay and its mussel beds, the Saint Mandrier peninsula, the fortifications (Eguillette, Balaguier, Tour Royale), and the Mourillon beaches. Toulon harbor is also an ideal navigational area for sailing, dinghy sailing, and a variety of water sports (sea kayaking, paddleboarding, rowing, etc.). It hosts numerous prestigious regattas and nautical races.

A must-see for an insight into the history of boat building and the interconnected trades involved. Located near the Maritime Prefecture and the Clock Tower at the entrance to the arsenal, the Toulon National Maritime Museum was created at the end of the First Empire. A true reminder of the Toulon arsenal, it has preserved the majestic gate designed by Lange in 1738. The site houses a collection of ships and galleys emblematic of the maritime tradition in the Mediterranean. Since the inauguration of a new exhibition in March 2011, the museum has also highlighted the establishment of the navy in Toulon and its impact on the city's development. On the ground floor, a space is dedicated to Vauban, creator of the first arsenal under Louis XIV. A model of the rope-making factory presents the architecture of a building like few others in France. The central part of the museum houses large-scale models of a ship and a frigate used for training officer cadets. Visitors will also discover a reconstruction of a galley, replaced after 1748 by the Toulon port prison. The reconstruction of the prison hospital is among the museum's new features. The first floor resituates Toulon as a seat of power and displays gifts representative of the Franco-Russian alliance established from 1891 to 1914, such as a punch set and a silver and enamel bratina. In addition to a torpedo dating from the 1960s, and a space reserved for submarines and aircraft carriers, enthusiasts will also appreciate the life-size reconstruction of the Charles de Gaulle maneuvering board, as well as a space dedicated to life aboard a ship, ensuring that the crew remains connected to their work tools.

Ideally located next to the naval base, the Marine Museum traces more than 400 years of maritime history. You will see magnificent, well-preserved models as well as the maneuver board of the famous Clémenceau. The museum is open every day from 10am to 6pm, except Tuesdays. It is labeled "Accueil Vélo".

The sanctuary serves as a memorial to the soldiers who fell in 1944, during the liberation of Provence.

Nice place with a lovely old town

The medieval old town is well preserved. With its location on the slope of the Casteou, one of the foothills of the Maurettes, it dominates the lower plain and offers a wide view of the sea and the offshore islands. Some buildings are classified as Monument historique: The Saint Paul Monastery The ensemble of fortifications encompasses the old town in the north of Hyères. The complex dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Fortification walls with square towers and the four city gates Porte de Baruc, Porte de Fenouillet, Porte de Saint-Paul and Porte de La Rade surround the old town center. The Templar Tower (Tour des Templiers, also Chapelle Sainte Blaise) was built by the Templars in the 12th century. In 1673, the brotherhood of the Commanderie de Beaulieu took over the building and the original castle walls were torn down. It served as a town hall until 1913, but today it is a courthouse and shows changing exhibitions. The Saint Paul Monastery also dates from the 12th-13th centuries. Century, but was significantly rebuilt between the 15th and 16th centuries. It shows collections of votive images and two reliquaries.

Brilliant views over a beautiful landscape, invites you to linger. Circular route/one-way street, in some places a bit narrow on the access road.