Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Toulon, France

With a substantial natural harbor shielded by the peninsula of Saint Mandrier and protected from the north by the imposing Mont Faron, Toulon has been destined to serve as a port. The French navy has maintained its base in Toulon for over 500 years, a realization of the location’s strategic importance was first made by the Ancient Greeks.

Consequently, many of your activities will revolve around maritime themes, such as observing the aircraft carrier and warships in the harbor, as well as immersing yourself in military history at the naval museum. Additionally, you can take a cable car to the pinnacle of Mont Faron, allowing you to survey the harbor as its watchmen have done for centuries.

Let’s examine the most notable attractions in Toulon:

1. Mont Faron

The imposing 584-meter mountain situated behind Toulon has long contributed to the area’s appeal as a harbor in antiquity.

Mont Faron effectively curtails the northwesterly Mistral wind and, as it is located directly on the coast, served as an optimal lookout point to track marine traffic and detect approaching vessels.

Nine towers and forts historically overlooked the bay, remnants of which remain visible today.

You do not need to be an experienced climber to reach the summit, as a cable car operates from a terminal in the northern part of the city.

You will arrive at the top within six minutes, where you can admire the breathtaking view, explore cliff-top trails, and visit a sanctuary for wild cats.

2. Rade de Toulon

By selecting a port ferry or charter, you can embark on an exploration of the military harbor, which has been utilized by the French navy since the 15th century and serves as the primary base for the French fleet alongside Brest.

For individuals interested in military history, a guided tour can provide in-depth knowledge of the piers of the Baie du Lazare and the historical naval cemetery.

Conversely, you might opt for a more economical option by taking the city ferry from the Gare Maritime to La Seyne, allowing you to see the majority of the sights without added commentary.

Children will be thrilled by the enormous vessels and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

Additionally, you will witness fortifications erected by the military strategist Vauban in the 17th century, which remain in active use by the French military.

3. Musée de la Marine

Enhance your knowledge of French naval history at the museum situated on the harbor.

Your entrance is impressive, as the building features the 18th-century gatehouse of the former arsenal at its facade.

This structure, alongside the nearby clock tower, is one of the few edifices to survive the wartime bombardment.

Inside, you can explore a captivating collection of historical model ships, antiquated maps, paintings depicting the harbor from the 17th and 18th centuries, figureheads from legendary ships like the 80-gun Neptune, and a trove of weaponry, including cannons from the 1600s.

Furthermore, a gallery showcases insights and artifacts related to the pioneering Gymnote submarine, which was developed in Toulon in the 1880s.

4. Plages du Mourillon

Located just east of the port, the Plages du Mourillon comprises four adjacent sandy beaches, all flying the Blue Flag and each exhibiting similar characteristics.

These beaches feature horseshoe-shaped bays lined with long breakwaters that create shallow and calm waters.

Totaling 15 hectares of sand, there are numerous bars and restaurants, as well as various attractions to engage younger visitors, including a ball pit, carousel, and mini-golf.

If you opt to walk from the city center, it should take no more than 20 minutes to reach them, while those driving will appreciate the availability of a large, complimentary parking area.

During summer evenings, fireworks displays light up the sky from Fort Saint-Louis, and mid-August is particularly notable for the aerobatic demonstrations performed by the Patrouille de France French Air Force team.

5. RC Toulon

In recent seasons, Toulon’s rugby team can be considered among the premier club teams globally.

RC Toulon, referred to as Les Rouge et Noir, secured the prestigious Heineken Cup for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015 and consistently ranks at or near the pinnacle of France’s Top 14. This league offers some of the most competitive salaries, ensuring that attending a match at the Stade Mayol, located by the harbor, allows you to witness top-tier players.

Observe the match like a true Toulonais, securing seats in the north or south stands at a more economical rate.

There, you will hear their famous Pilou-Pilou rallying cry, and if you are fortunate, you will experience the electrifying atmosphere when their historic rivals, Toulouse, come to play!

6. Musée Mémorial du Débarquement

You have the option to purchase a combined ticket for the cable car and this military museum, which is situated on a terrace at Mont Faron.

The museum and memorial honor the Allied invasion of Provence’s coast on August 15, 1944. If you have an interest in military history, the various presentations on operations and battlefields around Toulon are likely to engage you, illuminated with maps, models, and photography.

You will find numerous contemporary uniforms, weapons, and field equipment to examine, while outside, military hardware such as an American tank and German anti-tank and aircraft guns left post-battle can be viewed.

7. Cours Lafayette

Street markets form an integral part of life in Provence, and if the provenance of food matters to you, this locale provides insight into all the local produce and specialties.

Cours Lafayette is a lengthy pedestrian street that extends down to the harbor and justifies your visit at any time.

Every morning of the week except Monday, there is a market that fills this street.

Arrive in the morning to enjoy freshly baked pastries and squeezed orange juice as you peruse stalls featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheese, olives, fish, preserves, local lavender, flowers, and herbs.

8. Sentier des Douaniers

Aside from the harbor, Toulon is encompassed by a network of coastal walking trails that extend from Six-Fours in the west to Hyères in the east.

This network is referred to as the Sentier des Douaniers, established in the early 19th century during the First Empire to facilitate customs officers in detecting smugglers.

You will encounter natural balconies that uplift you or descend into rugged coves adorned with crystal-clear waters.

The 300 hours of sunshine annually in this region of France allow numerous plant species along the path to bloom, even in winter.

Dedicated hikers may wish to challenge themselves on the arduous route between Pointe de Cap Vieux and Cap Sicié.

9. Anse Magaud and Anse Méjean

Located along the Sentier des Douaniers are two small coves featuring a mixture of sandy and shingle beaches.

The structures of the fishing cottages descend right to the shoreline, while steep rocks behind them are adorned with cypress, palm, and pine trees.

Anse Magaud, positioned farthest from Toulon, serves as a paradise for snorkelers, as a cluster of substantial rocks in the middle of the cove creates a natural barrier to currents and conceals abundant underwater life.

Lunch is available at the restaurant perched on the headland separating the two coves.

10. Place de la Liberté

Toulon’s primary square acts as the city’s transport hub and central meeting point, deserving a leisurely stroll or a pause at one of the cafe terraces lining the sides.

Dominating the northern edge of the square is the neoclassical Grand Hôtel, an impressive symbol of Toulon completed in 1870. During the Second World War, it served as the headquarters for the occupying forces.

This hotel was transformed into apartments in the 1990s, and recently the elegant Théâtre Liberté was inaugurated on the ground floor.

The fountain, constructed in 1890, symbolizes France, Strength, and Justice with marble sourced from nearby Calissane, commemorating the transport of the Statue of Liberty from France to America in 1886.

11. Génie de la Navigation

Situated in the harbor, this significant marble statue erected in 1847 underscores Toulon’s maritime legacy.

The figure, with an anchor at its base, extends one arm and finger toward the sea, symbolizing the spirit of navigation and exploration of the ocean depths.

However, the statue’s colloquial nickname adds a note of amusement; “Cul-vers-ville” translates to “bum towards town,” due to its posterior facing the town hall.

This nickname playfully references Jules Cuverville, a 19th-century naval officer and politician.

12. Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Toulon et du Var

The Var region features immense biodiversity, which is evident in the necessity for its own natural history museum.

The institution assembles 978 bird specimens and 250 mammal exhibits, which may appear modest in comparison to its extensive collection of 27,000 insects.

If your interests lie in paleontology and anthropology, you will have the opportunity to study a pterosaur skeleton and an array of prehistoric agricultural tools.

The museum’s grounds also host a living botanical collection, designated as a “jardin remarquable,” providing both relaxation and education.

13. Musée des Arts Asiatiques

The presence of an Asian art museum in a port city like Toulon is entirely fitting because generations of sailors and explorers returned from voyages in Southeast Asia, Japan, India, and Tibet with an array of acquisitions.

A key component of the collection includes 473 coins from China, Japan, and India, bequeathed by a journalist based in Asia during the early 20th century.

Precious artifacts from China and Japan are systematically arranged according to their respective dynasties or periods, with the earliest items dating back to 1520 BC.

14. Art Museums

The Muséum d’Art showcases artworks from the 1400s to the present, introducing you to artists from Toulon and Provence who may not be widely recognized.

The most distinguished among them is Vincent Courdouan, a maritime painter whose works capture the dramatic essence of Toulon’s harbor in the 1800s.

If you are a regular visitor to Toulon, you can also visit the Hôtel des Arts Général-Leclerc and find a new and surprisingly prestigious contemporary exhibition every time.

Recent temporary exhibitions have spotlighted Spanish artist Eduardo Arroyo and renowned French comic illustrator Enki Bilal.

15. Gastronomy

If you choose to visit the Cours Lafayette market, you might find yourself tempted by local snacks prepared by vendors: Cade toulonnaise is a flatbread akin to Nice’s socca, made with chickpea flour and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Another specialty is chichi frégi, a delightful fusion of a doughnut and churro, flavored with olive oil and orange blossom extract.

Should you wish to acquire a gift for your return journey, lavender honey from the Var is a delightful option.

For lunch, indulge in bouillabaisse, a traditional fish stew, or daube, a braised beef stew infused with Provençal herbs.