Toulon is one of the larger cities along the French Mediterranean coast, and the area has been inhabited by Greek colonists since the 6th century BC. Over time, the city has developed strongly, and became part of France in 1486 together with the region of Provence. Eight years later, King Charles VIII initiated the construction of the naval port that is still home to Toulon. In 1524, Toulon’s harbor was strengthened with the construction of the Tour Royale fortress, and throughout the 16th century there were continuous battles in and around the city.

Louis XIV wanted to make France a power factor in the Mediterranean, and he had the military engineer Vauban fortify Toulon and its port. Later, Toulon became famous for being the scene of Napoleon’s successful siege in 1793, where he and France overcame the British. In the middle of the 19th century, fortifications and parts of the city were renovated and expanded.

Today you can experience an exciting old town with cozy streets, squares, fountains and markets where you can buy Provencal goods. The district can be explored between Toulon’s harbor and Boulevard de Strasbourg, and here you can see the city’s cathedral, Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-de-la-Seds, which was constructed from the year 1096.

The cathedral was completed in the 18th century, and therefore it is architecturally built in different styles. There are several works of art in the church, such as the baroque altarpiece. Close to the cathedral, you can see the city’s old market hall, the Halles Municipales, which was opened in fine art deco style in 1929. Today, the hall is designed as a gourmet venue with various cafés and restaurants.

In the newer part of the center, you can see Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s almost Parisian urban planning around the Place de la Liberté, which itself was laid out in 1852 as part of the great renovation of the city center at that time. On the square there are various well-known buildings such as the Grand Hotel from 1870, which is located on the north side of Place de la Liberté and which today houses the Théâtre Liberté.

In the square you can also see the Fontaine de la Féderation, a beautiful fountain from 1890. You can see other fountains as well when on a stroll in Toulon. Many fountains were built at the end of the 17th century and can be seen on smaller squares in the old town. Remember to notice the city’s opera house, the Opéra de Toulon, which was built as the largest in the country outside of Paris and opened in 1862.

You can also take a walk east of the center, where you can see the Porte d’Italie, which was one of the city gates that Vauban established when he began the fortification of Toulon in 1678. There are several museums in Toulon such as the Musée national de la Marine, which describes the history of the French navy in Toulon. You can learn more about Toulon’s history at the city museum Musée du vieux Toulon et de sa région, and a little south of the city is the Tour Royale fortress tower from 1514-1524 at the entrance to Toulon’s port.

Another well-visited excursion destination is the mountain Mont Faron, which dominates the landscape around Toulon with a height of 584 meters. You can get to the top with a cable car, which offers a fantastic view of the city, the sea and the area around Toulon. The unforgettable view is on the way to the top and of course when you reach Mont Faron as well.