With the Med yachting season drawing to a close, our crew bid farewell to Cannes and headed to our home for September, Toulon, on the French Riviera. I wasn’t sure what to expect with unenthusiastic descriptions from fellow travelers; however, I looked forward to the opportunity to explore a new place. Toulon has much to offer visitors. I would like to share my five favourite activities to do in Toulon:
1. Toulon rugby
Toulon is well-known for its rugby club and attracting South African rugby players such as Joe van Niekerk and Andre Pretorius. With the Rugby World Cup fever heating up, I jumped at the opportunity to go watch Toulon play against Clermont. The Toulon rugby stadium is more laid back and casual with unreserved seating compared to my home grounds of Newlands rugby stadium; however, the atmosphere was equally festive. Two Saffa yachting mates and I grabbed a beer, an empty seat and cheered in unison with the Toulon fans.
2. Les Sablettes beach
After a busy season working as a yacht stewardess I have been craving beach time. Conveniently, I discovered that a ferry departs hourly from Toulon’s port to Les Sablettes. I hopped off my yacht a few metres down and jumped on the ferry with beach bag in hand. The quick ferry ride costs 2 euro each way and offers great views of Toulon’s local naval ships and fish farms. Upon arrival in Les Sablettes, I navigated my way to the beach and was pleasantly surprised to find a long stretch of white sandy beach and the inviting warm Med ocean. I settled down for the afternoon with my aptly titled book ‘A Year in Provence’ and soaked up the sun. Feeling sun-kissed and lazy I decided to try out one of the many beach side restaurants. I settled at a table overlooking the beach and toasted another beautiful French Riviera beach with a mojito cocktail before making my way back to Toulon.
3. Provence’s biggest street market on Cours Lafayette
As crew cook, our down time in Toulon has allowed me to experiment with new recipes and ingredients. It was such a bonus to discover the nearby market square that hosts Provence’s largest street market on Cours Lafayette. Rows of fresh produce stores line the street with all sorts of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and other edible delights. The friendly stallholders, tantalizing aromas and bright colours have reaffirmed my love for French markets.
4. Pub crawl
There are numerous pubs scattered along Toulon’s port and city center that are worth popping in for a glass of rose or a cold beer. One of my favourite pubs, The Finians, offers great local live music and a wide variety of beverages. The bar shelves are tightly packed with concoctions I’m not sure I would dare to try but this adds to the unique ambiance. This cosy and unique bar attracts young locals and is offers a great taste of Toulon’s culture.
5. Cable-car to the top of Mount Faron
One of the main tourist attractions which is worthwhile visiting is Mount Faron. You can reach the summit via a ten minute cable-car ride that offers georgous views of Toulon’s bay, harbour and old French architecture. The fresh air and pleasant surroundings attract many cyclists, runners and picnic parties who enjoy getting away from the busy city center of Toulon.
It is only half way through the month of September and there is much more to see and do in Toulon. For more information on Toulon tourist activities visit http://www.toulontourisme.com .
