This is a network of 10 Ports ranged along the French Riviera and offering you a gateway to Provence. The touristic pleasures that this club offers can be enjoyed by everyone.

The Var is a French department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in Provence and is the second leading tourist destination in France just after Paris. Located on the southern coast of France and fronted by the Mediterranean Sea, it takes its name from the river Var, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but the boundary was moved in 1860. Drenched in sun for at least 300 days of the year, it is no surprise that this region is a favourite destination for tourists.. It is where you will find such famous places as Saint-Tropez and the stunningly lush valley of the Verdon River Gorge.

Toulon is the largest city and administrative capital of the Var. Other important towns in the Var include Fréjus, Saint-Raphael, Draguignan, Brignoles and Hyères.

The Var is known for the harbour of Toulon, the main port of the French Navy; for its seaside resorts, as mention above, the most famous of these is Saint-Tropez; for some fine examples of Romanesque and medieval architecture, such as the Le Thoronet Abbey and Fréjus Cathedral; and for its wines, particularly the wines of Bandol.

This year Var-Provence Cruise Club (VPCC) expects to welcome more than
350,000 cruise passengers, which represents a 130 % increase over the last three years. Awarded as “DESTINATION OF THE YEAR” by a panel of cruise experts in 2010, Var-Provence is now more than ever a popular cruise destination.

The strength of the VPCC network is in it's variety of ports. There are 10 ports along the French Mediterranean coast (St.Cyr – Bandol – Sanary – Les Embiez – Toulon/La Seyne – Porquerolles – Le Lavandou – Cavalaire – St.Tropez – St.Raphaël/Fréjus). Var-Provence offers a wide range of nautical options while it has also a lot to offer on shore side thanks to infinite possibilities of land experiences and sightseeing in a territory considered as the best preserved along the French Mediterranean coast.

The website of the VPCC (www.varprovence-cruise.com) showcases all kinds of excursions with more than 60 suggestions for excellent tours. From cooking classes to helicopter tours to visiting the Gorges du Verdon Grand Canyon (the biggest one in Europe!)

Set between the sea and beautiful countryside scenery, it is a place dreams are made of. Rest at the foot of the fountains, swim in the waterfalls, bathe in the translucent waters, breathe in the sweet mimosa or stroll the ochre streets. Var-Provence offers an exceptionally long coastline, forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, gorges, vineyards, gardens and typical Provencal garrigue...

Flip-flops or trainers? Whether your preference goes to extreme sports or just relaxation, Var-Provence is a vast sports ground offering something for everyone, including walking, scuba diving, cycling, surf sports, golfing, kayaking and much more. You can make the most of the Var's sign-posted footpaths along a variety of coastal, lakeside, hill and forest walks throughout the year.

Art or monuments? Here you have remarkable constructions, dating back as far as prehistoric times. Standing witness to the Var's rich and tumultuous history, they include megaliths, Troglodytic dwellings, Romanesque abbeys, medieval castles, fortified villages, Roman constructions, Moorish villas and military forts, to name but a few.

Terroir or tradition?! The word Provence obviously drums up images of pastis, rosé wine, olive oil, the compulsory siesta and boules games in the warm summer evenings. But you can also enjoy many other exciting heritage events and experiences all year round, such as traditional dances, floral processions, markets, nativity scenes featuring traditional "santon" clay figurines and a host of other Christmas celebrations.

We have selected below eleven of the Var's top natural, historic and heritage sights.

Don't miss them under any circumstances during your stay in Var-Provence.
And if you don't have time to see them all, we hope you will come back soon. To enjoy your stay to the full, we recommend adding on to each sightseeing excursion a wine-tasting or a visit to a craft workshop or a forest walk in the company of a botanical guide or a visit to one of our authentic old villages.


Getting There

Toulon is served by the Gare de Toulon railway station, from where there are services to Marseille, Nice, Paris and other regional destinations. The journey time from London’s St. Pancras Station to the Gare de Toulon is just 7.5 hours including one change of trains.

The port of Toulon is the main port of departure for ferries to Corsica.

The nearest airport is Toulon-Hyères Airport. There are flights to Paris and London’s Stansted Airport as well as other seasonal flights to European destinations. It is situated 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to the southeast of the town centre of Hyères and is 20 minutes from Toulon Port.

Of course you can always book a cruise with a company that includes this sensational destination in it's cruise itinerary.