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Guide to Toulon, France
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Toulon
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ToulonHome of the French naval fleet, Toulon is located in the southeast between the cities of Cannes and Marseille. Thought either of the places shouldering Toulon may in fact be more easily recognizable in name, the sailor haven could be just site to strike your fancy, or - in more appropriate terminology - float your boat. Shipbuilding may not be the dominant industry in this seaside town in the new century (as it so happens, the building yards have been shut down entirely), but the sea air is still deeply embedded in Toulon's soul. You'll pass by more uniformed officers on your daily outings than rank-less residents, and you're bound to find more excitement in the pubs (a well-known second home for a captain and his crew) near to the water than with the most popular historic item the city holds. Of course, it would only be fair to include a few of the brew castles in with the standalone fortress and its aged neighbors as staples of the past, but if a 'wow factor' is what you're on the hunt for, be sure to put the stone behemoth at the top of your list. Preserved quite wonderfully, Toulon's fort is one of the most appealing attractions in all of southern France. If you're here for no other reason than to view centuries of history, that is reason enough.
When to go:
Let's look at the criteria for this portion of the guide logically. When one is on vacation, one doesn't wish to be rained upon, chilled so much that ice crystals form upon one's fingers, or blasted in what seems to be an inferno whilst viewing the effects of a monstrous heat wave upon the landscape. Now, those are of course extremes, and thankfully, Toulon doesn't quite reach any. The sun could be out a bit more to liven things up, humidity levels could be a tad lower, and...well, those are the only suggestions we can conjure up. In all, the Mediterranean is good for Toulon, and if you have no grudges about the many hues of gray, you can confidently place Toulon in the running for your next destination. To lead you in a generally good direction, we recommend a visit in or around autumn.
Getting there and around:
About a half hour's drive from the city center resides the regional terminal of Toulon-Hyeres Regional Airport, a flight hub well connected to domestic locations but lacking with concern to international cities. Germany and the UK are where most international flights come and go from. Good news is that as more travelers find interest in Toulon, more 747s will operate out of Toulon; just a few decades' wait will suffice. You don't have many choices for transportation inside the city, but you don't need any more than you're given. Most of the sites in Toulon are within close range of one another, and nothing beats the most time-tested method: walking. Even if you're one to enjoy frenzied roadways and the smell of petrol, you too will come across no other option as good or as rewarding as getting about devoid of an internal combustion engine.
Attractions:
We've found it too difficult to come up with a starting point for your exploration of Toulon; our recommendation is simple: start at the water, work your way in, find your way back to the harbor, and repeat. Just to run a few highlights of the city by you before you set out: the Cathedral St Marie Majeure is a 12th century beauty and is far easier on the eyes in daylight than in the evening due to misplacement of lighting fixtures around the exterior.Both the Musee de la Marine and the Musee de Toulon are both extraordinary; the first delves into the city's shipbuilding and naval history, while the latter is more generally comprehensive establishment tying together all significant happenings of its past.
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