Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and Île de Porquerolles (€34, 50 minutes). La Croisière Bleue tour (ticket for all three is-
lands €50) and twice-weekly boats to St-Tropez (€50) require reservations.
Île de Porquerolles
POP 250
Despite the huge influx of day trippers (up to 6000 a day in July and August), beautiful
Porquerolles is wholly unspoilt: two-thirds of its sandy white beaches, pine woods, ma-
quis and eucalyptus are protected by the Parc National de Port-Cros, and a wide variety of
indigenous and tropical flora thrive, including the requien larkspur, which grows nowhere
else in the world. April and May are the best months to spot some of the 114 bird species.
Pottering along the island's rough unpaved trails on foot or by bicycle, breaking with a
picnic lunch on the beach and a dip in crystal-clear turquoise water, is heavenly.
Avoid July and August, when the risk of fire closes the interior of the island and makes
some trails inaccessible. In general, smoking is forbidden outside the village.
Sights & Activities
Place d'Armes
A tree-shaded
pétanque
pitch dominates central place d'Armes. Music concerts fill
Église
Ste-Anne
on its southern side in summer. Day in, day out, this hub of Porquerollais life
buzzes with outdoor cafes and ice cream stands and cyclists pedalling to and fro. Once the
last of the day-tripper boats has sailed, a Zen lull falls across the square.
VILLAGE SQUARE
Fort Ste-Agathe
( 04 94 00 65 41; adult/child €4/2; 10am-noon & 2-6pm May-Sep)
This 16th-cen-
tury fortification contains historical and natural-history exhibits. The tower has lovely is-
land views. Much of the building dates from between 1812 and 1814, when Napoléon had
it rebuilt after the British destroyed it in 1793. From place d'Armes, walk uphill along
chemin Ste-Agathe (between Villa Ste-Anne and Auberge des Glycines). Admission in-
cludes entry to the nearby windmill,
Moulin du Bonheur
.
FORT
