Presentation
Located between sea and hills, Toulon is a Mediterranean city full of contrasts and riches, nestled in one of Europe’s most beautiful natural harbors.
With 180,000 inhabitants and nearly 600,000 in the metropolitan area, Toulon is both the prefecture of the Var department and a dynamic economic, military, cultural, and tourist center.
⚓ As a maritime capital, it hosts the largest military port in Europe, the strategic heart of the French Navy. But it is also a major hub for pleasure boating, cruises, and maritime shuttles connecting beaches, neighboring towns, and the Golden Isles quickly.
🏛️ Its historical heritage blends military architecture (Vauban fortifications, Arsenal gate), religious buildings, townhouses, Art Deco buildings, and ancient Provençal streets. The renovated old town district is full of charm with its flowered squares, fountains, and art galleries.
🎭 On the cultural side, Toulon stands out with one of France’s most beautiful opera houses, the Théâtre Liberté (national stage), renowned museums (Naval, Art, Mont Faron Memorial), and a busy calendar: concerts, exhibitions, jazz, manga, literature, and gastronomy festivals punctuate the year.
🌿 For nature lovers, the city is an ideal playground. Mont Faron, overlooking the city, is accessible by cable car. It offers spectacular views of the harbor, hiking trails, a zoo, and a moving national memorial dedicated to the 1944 landing.
🌊 The Mourillon beaches, awarded the Blue Flag, offer sand, palm trees, gardens, playgrounds, restaurants, and water activities. They are accessible on foot or by water bus from the city center.
🛍️ Toulon is also a lively city every day: the Provençal market on Cours Lafayette, gourmet halls, fish restaurants, cafés on the squares, artisanal shops, and shopping centers like Mayol and Grand Var. Each neighborhood has its own identity, between tradition and urban renewal.
🎓 A university and tech city, it welcomes students in diverse fields: engineering (SeaTech), digital technology (ISEN), business (KEDGE), law, sports, sciences, design… Its innovative ecosystem, labeled French Tech, supports startups and creation in maritime, digital, and defense sectors.
🚢 Tourism is booming: cruise passengers, boaters, and day visitors find a strategic starting point here to the Calanques, the Hyères islands, Porquerolles, or Cassis.
🏉 It is also a city of passion: rugby with the RCT, but also of the sea, music, and conviviality. In summer, terraces come alive, the quays light up, and events attract all kinds of audiences in a warm, popular atmosphere.
Toulon is a city on the move, valuing its history without turning its back on the future. It captivates with its Mediterranean authenticity, its art of living between land and sea, and its easy accessibility by train, road, boat, or plane.
👉 A destination to discover, rediscover, or even adopt.