Focus on the coastal wonders

of Provence

In Provence, you can experiment with a lot of things. This territory with its infinite wealth is packed with wild places to explore, and stories just waiting to be told. The gems of the Provencal coast are partly protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral, an organisation which is in charge of protecting the heritage, and which offers visitors the chance to discover beautifully preserved exceptional sites. You have the Domaine de la Coudoulière in Saint-Mandrier and its farming site, the Domaine de Fabrégas and its natural site in La Seyne-Sur-Mer, Port d’Alon and Nartette in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Cap Canaille in La Ciotat, and even the site of La Poudrerie in Saint-Chamas and Miramas! You can also choose to set off on a discovery of the Camargue, a wild and natural region, and appreciate its natural reserves and its protected heritage.

The Domaine de la Coudoulière in Saint-Mandrier and its natural farming site

The Domaine de la Coudoulière (or L’Ermitage) is located in the south of the peninsula of Saint-Mandrier beside the beach of la Coudoulière. It is a former farming estate. Here, the landscape is dotted with hundred-year-old olive trees, and large forest-covered areas. It conjures up Mediterranean farming on the rural estates of the Var coast. This timeless area also has a 6000m2 working farm which hosts events aiming at raising the awareness of the younger generations on the subject of ecology and respect for protected natural areas. The Domaine de l’Ermitage also has 3 self-catering gites for rent near the town centre, shops and the beach. There are temporary exhibitions on the first floor of a magnificent 19th-century building.

The programme of exhibitions and gîte bookings with the commune of Saint-Mandrier (under the headings beaches and tourism)

The Domaine de Fabrégas in La Seyne-sur-mer

A natural area covering over 64 ha, partly farmed, at the foot of Cap Sicié

La Seyne-Sur-Mer also offers an exceptional natural site: the Domaine de Fabrégas. The forest site covers 64 hectares, including a vast natural partly farmed (organic market gardening) area, and an old bastide and is surrounded by the town of La Seyne. Nature blends here with the remains of little rural buildings, such as ruined mills, wells and even old wash-houses… which all bear witness to a former farming activity and make this one of the treasures of the town’s natural heritage. The Domaine de Fabrégas also houses a working farm (labelled organic farming) whose products from the harvest are sold on the spot. This farming mode claims to be in perfect adequation with the objectives of the protection of nature which guide the daily management of the site for the protection of natural habitats and valorising the species they are home to.

Discover la Seyne-sur-Mer

Cap Canaille between La Ciotat and Cassis

An authentic natural monument in its geology, landscapes and wildlife

Set off to discover Cap Canaille between La Ciotat and Cassis, a place which is blessed by Mother Nature and which was described by King Louis XIV as « the most beautiful cliffs in his realm ». This unique site is surprising both for its riches and landscapes and also its wildlife. Cap Canaille is listed in the heart of the Parc National des Calanques, and you can see nesting birds such as eagle owls and peregrine falcons, along with stranger animals such as the Tarente de Maurétanie and the gecko. Cap Canaille is also appreciated for its hiking trails on the coast, where visitors can enjoy views overlooking the sea from a height of around 400 metres. Just next to Cap Canaille, you can see three other just as remarkable sites: Parc du Mugel, the Calanque de Figuerolles and the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Garde.

La Poudrerie in Saint-Chamas-Miramas

An exceptional heritage area

Abandoned in 1974 by the Ministry of Defence after having been used for centuries as a canon powder factory, the site of La Poudrerie has progressively become a place where nature has taken over the area, giving it the surprising biological wealth that makes this place so special. The natural diversity blends in with the partly renovated historical buildings which make up the site, such as a chapel, a washhouse, powder mills and even the astonishing Tour de Safre, built into the cliffs of the same name. A pond, laid out in Romantic style, adds to this striking decor. The site of La Poudrerie also has a waterfall and a wet forest which offers biological diversity and a welcome coolness for its visitors.

Discover the village of Saint-Chamas

The site of La Palissade in Arles

A house and many trails open to the public to set off on a discovery of the Camargue

The site of La Palissade is surely one of the wildest in all the Camargue. A former fishing and hunting territory, it is currently home to unique and fascinating biodiversity on the 702 hectares it occupies on the right bank of the Grand Rhône, near the mouth of the river. The place is a treasure for visitors who can choose to discover the site on foot along the hiking trails, on horseback to get a better feeling of the authentic atmosphere of the Camargue or with a kayak on the Rhône during the summer. The Domaine de La Palissade also houses a reception area in an old brick building which blends in beautifully with the site’s natural decor.

Visit the Camargue

Etangs et Salins in the Salins de Camargue, Arles, Les Saintes Maries

The site of the Etangs et Salins de Camargue (ponds and marshland) is a real must when you visit the region. The magnificent landscapes, formed by the myriad of ponds and marshes are amazing. The site is spread over more than 6,500 ha and includes aquatic and terrestrial environments dominated by freshwater along the former arm of the Rhône, and a vast lagoon and dune system near the Mediterranean Sea, on the edge of the Golfe de Beauduc. The progressive advance of the coastline has built up vast systems of dune ridges on the site, which have little by little isolated some of the ponds and lagoons. Until they were acquired by the Conservatoire du Littoral, these areas were either devoted to agro-pastoral activity (bull and horse breeding, rice growing) or salt farming (production of sea salt for the chemicals industry and snow clearing). The 6500-hectare natural monument is made up of eloquent natural landscapes, and rich, intriguing biodiversity. Discover the remains of the former Château de Tourvieille, in the middle of the site. The recently restored tower now offers a viewpoint with an incredible panorama of the vast landscapes of the Camargue.

The most beautiful beaches of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Etang de Vaccarès, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

In the municipality of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, l’étang de Vaccarès, the largest in all the Camargue, is listed as a national nautral reserve. The biodiversity of the protected natural area is striking and well-removed from any human activity and urban infrastructure. Here, nature retains all its rights over an immense territory where many animal and plant species have made their homes, particularly the Greater Flamingo, which is a symbol of the Camargue. Swimming, fishing and using the pond are prohibited, but the roads alongside it allow you to see it close up. The lighthouse of La Gacholle is an educational break for cyclists and walkers who take the Digue à la Mer.

Marais du Vigueirat, Arles, National natural reserve open to the public

The Marais du Vigueirat are spread over a 1200-hectare natural protected site, at the meeting place of two absolutely remarkable places: the Rhône delta and the steppe-like plain of La Crau. You can see over 2,000 animal and plant species, including many bird species, and Camargue bull and horse breeding farms. To discover the marshes, you can walk, take a guided tour in a horse-drawn carriage or do it on horseback. Several themed hiking trails allow you to discover the natural reserve and observe its very special wildlife. All year round, the Marais du Vigueirat host many cultural, artistic and musical events, such as the Festival de la Camargue, Fête de la Nature, Producers’ day, and the Rendez-vous aux Jardins and Musiques en Balade…

Discover the historical town of Arles

Côte d'Azur coast

When you set out from the towns which are the cradle of tourism such as Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Tropez, or on the coastal trail along the banks of the Mediterranean,...

Discover the coastal gems of the Côte d’Azur