Toulon is considered one of the largest cities on the French Riviera. The French naval base is still based in its port, and in the city itself there are many museums dedicated to the history of the fleet. So what to see in Toulon?
Toulon itself is divided into two parts: the Old City is a pedestrian zone and is famous for its narrow streets and graceful fountains. It is also home to the cathedral and the splendid Provencal market.
"Upper Town" was designed by the famous architect of the times of Napoleon III - Baron Haussmann. The buildings in this part of Toulon are reminiscent of the center of Paris. It is here that you can see the grandiose buildings of the opera, the Galeries Lafayette and the Palais des Justice.
The main port of Toulon houses the Naval Museum, famous for its extensive collection of ancient weapons and ship models. It is also worth climbing Mount Faron, on the top of which the ruins of 17th century defensive structures have been preserved.
The fishing village of Murillon is also of particular interest. Here is the Museum of the Orient, an old fort of the 16th century, a huge botanical garden and luxurious sandy beaches.
TOP 10 attractions of Toulon
Cathedral
Cathedral
The Toulon Cathedral has served as the seat of bishops since the 5th century. Nothing remains of such an ancient building, except for a small chapel of St. Joseph of the 10th century, which is now part of the modern cathedral.
An interesting fact - in the 16th century, the cathedral was used for some time as a Muslim mosque, since more than 30 thousand Turkish sailors were quartered in Toulon. However, the cathedral was soon returned to the Catholic Church.
Subsequently, architectural work began on the reconstruction of the old Romanesque building and the addition to it of the elegant chapel of the Holy Relics, erected in the 15th century. In 1701, the magnificent new main facade of the temple was completed, made in the style of the classicism era. It was decorated with various bas-reliefs and massive columns. In the middle of the 18th century, a bell tower was added to the cathedral.
The interior decoration of the cathedral was carried out mainly in the middle of the 19th century - the painting of the walls of the temple, the main organ and elaborate gilded wooden sculptures date back to the same period. And in the chapel of Corpus Christi there is an amazing baroque altarpiece of 1681, made of marble and decorated with stucco.
Freedom Square and Strasbourg Boulevard
Freedom Square
Liberty Square and the spacious Strasbourg Boulevard adjoining it are considered the center of Toulon city life. This quarter was designed in the middle of the 19th century by the famous architect Haussmann and resembles a typical luxury Parisian development.
In the center of Liberty Square is the Federation Fountain, which consists of three figures symbolizing France, Strength and Justice. Opposite the fountain, the city hall rises, decorated with curious statues of the Atlanteans. A little further away, you can see the curious buildings of the Galeries Lafayette and the Art Museum, where the best paintings by Provencal masters of the 18th-20th centuries are exhibited. All these buildings are distinguished by their bright decor - they were built in approximately the same style at the end of the 19th century.
The crown jewel of this quarter is the opulent Toulon Opera House, the oldest in all of France. The opera, located on the trendy Strasbourg Boulevard, was inaugurated in 1862. It is distinguished by an elegant portal, decorated with arcades, sculptures and stucco. The opera seats just under two thousand spectators.
Strasbourg Boulevard smoothly flows into Boulevard General Leclerc, at the end of which is the huge Alexander I Park, opened back in 1852. The park is named after the king of Yugoslavia, who was tragically killed in Marseille in 1934. Alexander I Park is an ideal place to relax: there are several shady alleys, a small pond, many curious monuments, as well as playgrounds.
Addresses: Boulevard de Strasbourg; Place de la Liberté
Naval museum
Naval museum
The National Museum of French Naval History is located at the entrance to the main port of Toulon. The history of the building that houses the museum is curious. This luxurious building used to serve as the entrance to the arsenal. It was built back in 1738, while the museum itself was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814. The central facade of the building of the Naval Museum is decorated with exquisite stucco molding, powerful columns and interesting sculptures depicting Atlanteans.
The collection of the naval museum itself is amazing. Here you can see weapons from different eras, paintings by marine painters, and curious historical documents. A separate exposition allows visitors to get acquainted with the life of a simple French sailor - their uniforms, marine instruments, and household items are presented here.
Of particular interest is the collection of models and models of sea vessels - from old merchant galleys to modern aircraft carriers. The most famous of the warships is the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which also took part in modern conflicts.
And in the naval museum of Toulon there is a small section dedicated to Russian-French relations - here you can find commemorative porcelain, anniversary insignia and jewelry.
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The huge museum of natural theory of Toulon and the province of Var is located a couple of kilometers from the city center in a picturesque suburb. Previously, the museum was located in the elite quarter on Freedom Square, but now this building houses the Art Museum.
The collection of the Natural History Museum is amazing. Here you can see various fossils, dinosaur skeletons, ancient human bones and even masterpieces of primitive art. A separate exposition is dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Mediterranean, where skillful stuffed giraffe, lynx, turtles and various birds are presented. The museum building is perfectly equipped with modern multimedia.
The Natural History Museum is surrounded by a luxurious park known as La Garden. Here you can also see some of the museum's exhibits - the rock garden is made of ancient minerals, and fragrant magnolias and other Mediterranean plants grow along the park alleys.
Italian gate
Italian gate
The Italian gate is a part of the city's fortress wall, practically the only one that has survived in Toulon. The first defensive buildings have been on this site since the 13th century. The modern Italian gate was additionally fortified by the genius of military engineering Vauban in the 17th century.
Subsequently, it was through these gates that the future emperor Napoleon Bonaparte set off to conquer Italy in 1796 - hence the name of this gate. Now these luxurious city gates are open for tourists. The entrance through them is pedestrian, and on their top you can see ancient artillery.
By the way, there is an interesting theater cafe not far from the Italian Gate.
Fountains of Toulon
The historic quarter of Toulon is famous not only for its elegant Baroque buildings, but also for its curious fountains located in secluded places in squares or attached directly to buildings. There are more than 80 fountains in the city, and each fountain is unique, no two are alike.
- The Dauphin fountain is located in the niche of the episcopal residence. He appeared in the drawings of Louis XIV, the famous Sun King. The fountain, designed in 1668, depicts a terrible fish with bulging eyes.
- The Fountain of the Three Dauphins is located in Place Puget. This monument of the late 18th century is an amazing sight - the stone statue is so violently overgrown with greenery and wild grapes that it is almost hidden from prying eyes. And the square itself is famous for the fact that the great writer Victor Hugo stayed in one of the nearest mansions. Nowadays, there are many cozy cafes with open verandas on Puget Square.
- The Saint-Vincent fountain is located in the square of the same name. It is an ingenious engineering system - it is equipped with two small pools that were used for washing and rinsing linen. On the other hand, this is an ordinary drinking water fountain. The modern Saint-Vincent fountain was built in 1832 on the site of an old building from 1615.
It is worth noting that the fate of the Saint-Vincent fountain befell many other city fountains - they were built in the 17th century, but over the past centuries they fell into disrepair and were replaced in the 19th-20th centuries.
Mount Pharaun
Mount Pharaun
Mount Pharaun is located near Toulon. Its height is 584 meters above sea level. You can climb to the top on foot along a steep steep path, but it is much more convenient to ride a cable car, and the ascent will take no more than 10 minutes.
The top of Mount Faron offers stunning views of Toulon and the surrounding area. Also here you can see the picturesque ruins of defensive structures of the 17th-18th centuries and a memorial in memory of the landing of the Allies in France in 1944. At this place, a small museum of military equipment from the Second World War is now open.
Also on the slopes of the mountain there is a curious zoo specializing in the breeding of wild cats - jaguars, tigers and lynxes.
Murillon
Murillon
The Murillon district is located east of the center of Toulon. Once it was a modest fishing village, which was chosen by the families of sailors of the French fleet in the 19th and 20th centuries.
- The main attraction of the quarter is the powerful Fort Saint-Louis, built in the 16th century and additionally fortified by the famous engineer Vauban.
- At the foot of this small fortress there is a picturesque house with a garden. It previously belonged to the descendants of the great writer Jules Verne, and now it houses the curious Museum of the Orient. His collection includes a variety of trophies that came to France during the colonization of Southeast Asia. Also here you can see unique masterpieces of Japanese, Chinese and Indian art.
- On the territory of the Murillon district there is also a luxurious botanical garden, opened back in 1889. Typical Mediterranean flora grows here - palms, pine trees and funny cacti, as well as golden mimosa blossoms. You can also see a marble statue of the German poet Heinrich Heine in the park.
Royal tower
Royal tower
The Royal Tower rises on a promontory near the Murillon district. This powerful defensive structure was completed in the 16th century. The tower is impressive in its dimensions - its diameter is 60 meters. Subsequently, it was strengthened by the great engineer Vauban and "took part" in many wars and conflicts, including the bloody War of the Spanish Succession at the beginning of the 18th century.
Subsequently, the tower served as a prison and gold storage. By the way, it was from the top of the Royal Tower that Josephine Beauharnais - Napoleon's wife - saw off her husband's fleet on the Egyptian campaign.
In 1947, the tower was modernized, and its most dilapidated buildings were dismantled. In 2004, the Royal Tower was turned into a museum. The fortress walls, the tower itself and the casemates are open for visiting. A trail along the coast connects the tower with the cozy sandy beaches of the Murillon area.
Cap Brune
Cap Brune
The elite quarter of Cap Brune is located a little further than the Murillon district. It was founded at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, and this place was immediately chosen by representatives of the upper strata of society and French bohemia. Here are preserved villas and mansions that belonged to the great Charles de Gaulle, the famous artist Jean Cocteau and many others. Also here you can see the slightly frightening ruins of fortifications from the Second World War and visit the small chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Cap-Falcon, crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary. Also in the Cap Brune area there is a picturesque restaurant on the seashore, a secluded tiny beach and even a diving school.
