Porquerolles

About this place

Porquerolles is the largest and most westerly of the Hyères islands, off the coast of the Var department in southern France, about 15 km south of Hyères and 28 km southeast of Toulon in a straight line. It is about 7 km long and 3 km wide, covering 12.5 square kilometres. The island's village was founded in 1820 and its lighthouse in 1837. In 1912 François Joseph Fournier bought the whole island and planted 200 hectares of vineyards. In 1971 the French government bought 80 per cent of it to protect it from development, and most of it is now part of the Port-Cros National Park and a botanical conservation area. The north coast is lined with white sand beaches such as Notre-Dame, La Courtade and the Plage d'Argent, fringed with pines and lapped by clear turquoise water, while cliffs run along the south coast. Inland are woods, vineyards and low hills, and an old fort stands above the bay of Alycastre. Visitors arrive by ferry from La Tour Fondue in Hyères and hire bikes or walk, since the island is almost car-free. They swim at the beaches and follow trails through the pines; the island is busy in summer, so arrive early.