For much of its history, La Seyne-Sur-Mer is an industrial area supporting the Port of Toulon.
La Seyne is a shipbuilding town, and its yards launched boats in the 1980s. But since then the town has turned to tourism, regenerating the waterside, opening restaurants and building accommodation. This transformation is symbolized by the Pont de la Seyne, a century-old steel bridge converted into a stylish belvedere. And it’s a lovable destination, moments from the superb Plage des Sablettes beach and all the excitement of Toulon’s ancient harbor. It remains France's Mediterranean naval base and has a lot of history to reveal to anyone intrigued by France's military past. Let's explore the best things to do in La Seyne-Sur-Mer.
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1. Toulon Harbour
Defended to the south by the Saint-Mandrier Peninsula, Toulon Harbour is a natural harbor without equal: Mont Faron behind Toulon formed both a landward obstacle and a natural watchtower. The harbor continues to be the French Navy’s main base on the Mediterranean.
If you’re into military hardware you need to catch the ferry across to Toulon for a glimpse of the warships and aircraft carriers on the crossing. Another way to experience the harbor is to stroll along the harbors in La Seyne to see maritime traffic coming and going.
2. Fort de Balaguier
This stronghold was built in 1673 to defend the eastern tip of the Toulon Harbour. Its most pivotal event happened in 1793 after Toulon had surrendered to the British. A French force, led by Napoleon Bonaparte staged an assault on this fortress, which helped oust the British from the city.
It was a milestone in Napoleon’s career as he was promoted to general directly after. The fort is still owned by the French navy but is run by the local council, which has set up a small maritime museum inside.
3. Le Pont de la Seyne
Over the past decade, something truly innovative has been done with the iconic bascule railway bridge La Seyn in the port of Toulon.
This steel structure is 44 meters in length and was constructed in 1917. Since it was decommissioned it has been in a permanently upright position, and during restoration work was turned into a belvedere.
There’s a lift serving the lookout that has a superb perspective of one of the world’s most storied harbors. On the lower level is a small exhibition center where you can inspect the century-old mechanisms that used to power the bridge.
4. Plage des Sablettes
On the seaside of the fixed isthmus, Saint-Mandrier Peninsula to the mainland is one of the region's most valuable beach areas. Plage des Sablettes is a fine, white, sandy curve that stretches for kilometers on the beach, bathed in the clearest and most gentle waters for days.
From the beach, you will be able to look at the impressive silhouette of Cap Sicié, as well as the Deux Frères rocks, which have a local legend rooted in Greek mythology. There are a few water sports companies based next to Plage des Sablettes that offer windsurfing, kayaking, scuba diving and light sailing in the summer.
And in the evenings you might be able to catch a concert or firework display on the beach.
5. Tamaris
This coastal community on their way to Les Sablettes was created by architect Michel Pacha in the late 19th century. He developed 70 villas here, along with chalets, two hotels, three casinos, all enriched by gardens.
It was a winter destination where nobility and industrialists, sheltered from the mistral and taking advantage of the unobstructed views of Toulon. Le Seyne’s tourist office organizes a walking tour of the neighborhood if you’d like to get closer to Pacha’s Orientalist mansions.
One of these, Villa Tamaris, is a modern art center with temporary exhibitions by regional artists in an extraordinary environment.
6. Parc de la Navale
Just east of the marina, this seaside park has reincarnated La Seyne, after its shipbuilding industry collapsed. With fresh pine groves and swaying palms, the park covers five hectares right where the old shipyards used to be.
There’s a big, maritime-themed playground for little ones, and along the water, channel crossed by little footbridges. For couples it’s there isn’t a prettier place for a stroll after a meal, as you can look out over the water to see Toulon, the harbor and Mont Faron in the distance.
7. Église Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Voyage
Dating back to 1673, this church has been brought up to serve the growing seafaring church of La Seyne. Sailors would pray for safety before departing and then give thanks on their return.
By the end of the 19th century, the church was starting to fall apart, and Michel Pacha intervened. He redesigned the facade, giving it a fashionable Neo-Gothic rose window and a portal crowned with delicate carvings.
The magnificent marble altar was sculpted in Bourg-Saint-Andéol a couple of hours to the north and donated to the church by the local construction magnate Amable Lagane when her daughter was married in the church in 1892.
8. Forêt de Janas
For those who like to stretch their legs, it's a 391-hectare forest on the coastal hills down Cap Sicié. You can go on a family outing in the aromatic forest with Aleppo pines, holm oaks, and eucalyptus trees, and take in the south side of the harbor from this natural balcony.
By car, you only need to drive the Corniche Varoise, embrace the high shore on the water. There are a few places where you can stop, go out and ponder the humble vistas of the Port of Toulon, Mont Faron, and the Mandrier Peninsula.
9. Batterie de Peyras
One of the historic sites to track down in the Forêt de Janas is this gigantic gun installation dating to 1879. It was built at a now-forgotten time when there were worries of a new conflict erupting in the Mediterranean.
Perched above the sea at a height of almost 200 meters it was devised to rain shells down on ships attacking the harbor. The battery was actually never used for that purpose, and the Germans converted the installation into a flak battery in the Second World War.
Their guns are still there today, together with a lot of the infrastructure like a powder magazine, a rainwater cistern, and the barracks, which are under a layer of reinforced concrete.
10. Téléphérique de Toulon
We’ve mentioned Mont Faron a few times already, and you can catch a cable car to the top from just outside Toulon. The cable car was installed in the late-1950s and is a remarkable piece of engineering, running for almost half a kilometer and climbing 378 meters.
It takes six minutes to reach the upper station where you’ll emerge to see the whole of Toulon and its mythical harbor spread out below. To continue the adventure you can access a system of walking trails, while there’s also a small zoo for wild cats about 20 minutes from the upper station.
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