So I'm going to be spending August in Toulon. I know it's not the biggest city in France, nor the most popular in Provence so I don't expect a lot to see and do there. I've never been there so could you actually describe what kind of city it is? Is it posh/rough/cultural/modern? What I would really like to know is what there is to see and do in Toulon, but also in the area. I'm interested in everything when it comes to sightseeing, I like cultural and fun attractions, parks, museums, nature etc (anything really). There isn't so much information online given about what is within a short distance of Toulon. I will be teaching a family English for 2 hours every day, so unfortunately I can't take any over night trips or trips that are very far away. However I was thinking of going to Monaco and St Tropez. Would they be too far?
Anyway, thank you!
Hi,
Lucky you! south of France for a month...
Here's the link for the local (official) site...I always use the offiical ones as they're not overburdened with ads and such...and they're written by people who live there...
http://toulontourisme.com/en/
Toulon is of course a port call for cruise ships so a lot of the tourists are there for a short term...you can plan around the ship arrivals if crowds bother you.
this is a non-official site, but useful:
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/toulon-f-az-tou.htm
This is LP's online page for Toulon...
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/cote-dazur/toulon
But since you'll be there for a month, here's the link for public transport services:
http://www.reseaumistral.com/presentation/index.asp?rub_code=11
http://www.reseaumistral.com/presentation/index.asp?rub_code=12
About rail service:
http://en.toulon.fr/avenir-se-construit/article/rail-links
for a special train trip:
http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/centre-var/horaires.htm
http://www.marvellous-provence.com/activities-and-sports/drives-and-rides/rail/tourist-train-of-central-var
And here's the Var Department site (more info...)
http://www.var.fr/
But man does not live by culture alone, so here's a listing of farmers markets:
http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=farmersmarket&find_loc=Toulon
http://www.examiner.com/article/a-look-inside-the-provencal-markets-of-toulon-france
Are you a collector or know someone who likes to collect small things? Then check out the vide-grenier (empty attic), brocantes (antiques, semi-antiques, other old stuff) listings. My former boss followed EPL and I was able to find him new but last years club shirts...for uner 10 euro each. So he gave me additional time off...(he was in a competition with a fellow Argentinian as to who had the largest, most diverse collection. You never know what you'll find...
http://www.brocantesfrance.com/calendar.html
One last thing. Please invest in travel insurance...just in case...unless you'll be covered by the family you'll be staying with.
Hope this gives you enough to think about doing...just because Toulon isn't well known doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot to enjoy.
Bonne chance!
Toulon / Monaco by local train (TER) in 2.5 hours one way with a stop and change in Nice. http://www.info-ler.fr/doc/plandureseauregionaldestransports2014.jpg
For the surrounding take the LER - local bus service http://www.info-ler.fr/doc/plandureseauregionaldestransports2014.jpg
For the town http://toulontourisme.com/ and the region http://www.tourismepaca.fr/
You have plenty of nice coastal paths, coves and beaches to explore (Le Mourillon, Lazaret Bay, around St Mandrier...), a boat trip to Porquerolles, and the Hyères Islands, or going up Mont Faron, or a nice inland village like Le Revest-les-Eaux...You can of course take day trips to Cassis and st Tropez.
If you enjoy snorkelling, plenty of nice spots, bring your gear along
Please correct me if I am wrong, but am sure my Lonely Planet describes Toulon as a rough city, with extreme previous nationalist politicians voted by the local population?
I have always avoided for this reason.
Toulon is a totally fine city, but yes, it has some rough areas. You do not need to visit them if you don't want to. Since it is a major naval port, it has lots of sailor bars and also the carnal attractions that sailors want.
As for the politics of the city, it is indeed a moral problem for a lot of us, but everything is relative. In terms of normal life, even an ultra conservative French town is generally considered to be extremely liberal by the standards of the anglo-saxon countries (I say that only in opposition to something like "Scandinavian countries.").
Except unlike the south of France, "anglo saxon countries" (I'm not sure what that is, but let's say Britain, Germany, USA) don't have fascist national front parties represented in their national or local politics like the South of France and are socially liberal compared to many of our Catholic neighbours
Yet parts of the south of France (particularly the Ariege department) are more socialist than anything else. In one canton in the last election there was one small village and everyone voted for Marine Le Pen...turns out it was the one family that lives there.
Besides, this is a travel forum...if you have political views, please find another forum where you'll find people interested in the subject.
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