Guided boat tour of the harbour
Toulon, by the seaSet course for Europe’s most beautiful harbor
Visiting the Toulon harbor by boat and getting up close to the ships of the French Navy can remain a child’s pleasure for a long time. The harbor and naval base are two of the places you can’t miss, and the city’s soul. This exciting maritime excursion, which takes you to the Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer peninsula via the La Seyne-sur-Mer and Les Sablettes coastlines, is one of the best ways to get to know Toulon and its natural environment. Embark on a 21st-century version of French naval history.
5 good reasons to visit the harbour by boat
- Approaching military vessels in the naval base
- Explore the harbour and see the city and hills from the sea
- Learn about Toulon’s maritime and naval history
- Capturing extraordinary views in photographs
- A fun family experience
History of a naval heritage
” Toulon harbor is the most beautiful and the most excellent of the Mediterranean Sea, in the opinion of all nations ” is how Vauban – Louis XIV’s military engineer – described the site that reveals itself to you during the guided tour of the harbor, departing from the port of Toulon. Embark with the boatmen for a real journey through time, during which the history of the town, intimately linked to its naval heritage, is revealed to you.
Our advice
In fine weather, remember to bring sun cream and a hat or cap with you when you go out for a walk. On a boat on the sea, the sun is sure to give you a splash of color!
Get up close to the Navy’s flagships
On board, you leave the quay to get closer to the military ships nestling in the heart of their docks: their imposing presence makes you dizzy and you can’t resist taking a photo of them. It’s a great privilege to be able to observe the fleet of Europe’s leading defense port up close, with the well-sheltered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle discreetly in view.
Journey along the river
You continue your exploration along the coastline of the harbor: breathtaking panoramas unfold before your eyes until you arrive in La Seyne-sur-Mer. The corniche of Tamaris and its oriental villas, inherited from the patron Michel Pacha, transport you to the shores of the Bosphorus. The mussel beds in the Bay of Lazaret, huts on stilts, contrast with the massive fortifications that watch over the harbor. As on Mont Faron, forts and strategic towers ensured Toulon’s maritime security: the Eguillette, Balaguier and Saint-Louis forts and the Tour Royale are precious testimonies to this. Continuing along the isthmus of Les Sablettes, you approach the Saint-Mandrier peninsula: with its small, peaceful harbor full of pointus – traditional fishing boats – it closes off the harbor like an arm of rock and pine forest resting on the sea.
History continues
Round off your visit to the harbor with a tour of over 400 years of maritime history at the Musée National de la Marine. Located at the end of the harbor next to the main entrance to the naval base, the museum traces the city’s naval past. Paintings, models, replicas and scientific instruments from the past to the present tell you how men have shaped Toulon‘s military destiny.
How do I get to the port of Toulon?
By road, from the east or west entrances to the town, follow signs for “Centre-ville – Le port”. Park in the port parking lot between the Gare Maritime and Quai du Petit Rang, or in the Q-Park “Mayol” and “Lafayette” underground parking lots behind the port.