Arras France Tourism Guide

The Bouches-du-Rhône is a French department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region (south east France). It is a perfect holiday destination, far away from stress and pollution.

The Department has a Mediterranean climate, slightly warmer, dryer and sunnier than Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes, but also less sheltered from the wind.

The nearby city of Toulon, in the Var department, has an average of 300 days of sun a year, making it the sunniest city in metropolitan France! In fact, the Var department enjoys an exceptional coastline with many beaches of fine sand and is the second most visited department after Paris. It is also the second most woody department in France.

Toulon is a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Toulon is an important centre for naval construction, fishing, wine making, and the manufacture of aeronautical equipment, armaments, maps, paper, tobacco, printing, shoes, and electronic equipment.

The military port of Toulon is the major naval center on France’s Mediterranean coast, home of the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and its battle group. The French Mediterranean Fleet is based in Toulon.

Toulon’s harbor (picture above)

Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer

Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer is a city located in the Var department and has over 11 200 inhabitants. It is located near Toulon.

Le Castellet (above and below)

Le Castellet is a lovely medieval village perched above the plains of the Var. Arriving on the little road from La Cadière-d’Azur you get a good view of Le Castellet, as the road across the countryside and vineyards circles the village before finally climbing up to the center.

The village retains its fortified look, with sections of the ancient ramparts still there, along with a couple of the old fortified “portes”. The streets are cobblestone and the houses are old and interesting. The castle was last rebuilt in the 15th century, and has an imposing defensive feel about it.

The Paul Ricard race track, (located a few km away from Le Castellet) is world famous. The track developed some of the best French drivers of the time, and hosted the Formula One French Grand Prix on many occasions, the first of which being the 1971 French Grand Prix. It is used nowadays for the international “Bol d’Or” motorcycle race, historic car races and other similar events.