Île de Porquerolles Things to Do Tips by JLBG

The village of Porquerolles lies at the bottom of a wide bay. It was created in 1820 and has now a population of 400 permanent inhabitants. In summer, there are many visitors for day trips but few spend the night on the island where camping is forbidden and that has very few housing capabilities. The harbor, in an inlet of the bay, is naturally protected from every wind except the Mistral (northerly). A pier has been built that brings the shelter from the Mistral.

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The Eastern part of the bay of Porquerolles is lined by rocky hills covered with Mediterranean bushes, that go down gently into the sea. In early September, the small sandy beaches were almost desert but we were not on the island for bathing but to look for plants, so we did not checked any beach! Narrow passes were winding among the thick and often thorny bushes.

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What is often called by visitors "château de Porquerolles" is actually Fort de Sainte Agathe, a fort that is very strategically overhanging the village of Porquerolles and its harbor, the only true harbor on the island. It can be seen from far away, almost from the continent (Péninsule de Giens)

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The oldest fort is thought to have been built by François 1st around 1531. A strong round tower of 20 m in diameter and 13 m high was built on a rock. Inside the tower, a large room is now used as a show room for the "Conservatoire National de Porquerolles" and Nature preservation.

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On top of Fort Sainte Agathe, the terrace was designed for a battery of cannons. From there, the view is stunning in every direction.

The English occupied briefly the island. In 1793, before leaving, they burnt and destroyed most of the fort, blowing up the tower. Most of what can be seen now was rebuilt between 1810 and 1815 by Napoleon.

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This drawing, on show inside the main room of the tower, gives a bird’s eye view of Fort de Sainte Agathe with its surroundings. It shows well how strategic that place was to protect the city on Hyères on the continent as the canons set on the terrace could shoot any unfriendly boat that sailed towards Hyères.

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The Parc National de Port-Cros is in charge of the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porquerolles

The « Conservatoire botanique de Porquerolles » was created in 1979 and was labelled "Conservatoire botanique national" in 1990. This means that it is in charge of the inventory of Mediterranean plants and of their specific natural environments and of their protection. It also plays a part in information of the people and teaching to children. Its part is not limited to the island but covers all the French Mediterranean regions : Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur and Corsica.

The House of the "Parc National de Port-Cros" is just outside the village, on the road to the lighthouse. It is opened every day except Saturday from October 1st to November 15th, 9.30 am - 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm -5.15 pm

It contains an information office about the activities of the Park in Porquerolles. The gardens can be visited by groups, on appointment.

The Garden is opened every day from April to October 9.30 am - 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm - 5.15 pm.

Information and booking 33 (0)494 58 07 24

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Phone: 33 (0)494 58 07 24
Website: http://www.portcrosparcnational.fr/conservatoire/
Other Contact: http://www.porquerolles.com/defa

The lighthouse was built in 1837. It stands at the highest place on the island, a 142 meters hill in the south, opposite to Porquerolles village.

It is possible to climb on top by a steep inside staircase (third photo).

The lighthouse bears the logo of the "Phares et Balises" department (lighthouses and beacons department) of the Var département"

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Once on top of the lighthouse, unsurprisingly, the landscape is stunning, in every direction, as the island is not that big.

The first three photos show the open sea and the southern coast of the island, the closest to the lighthouse. The third is the eastern end of the island with the Pointe des Gabions and two islets, Gros Sarranier (half hidden by the cape) and Petit Sarranier.

The fourth photo shows the north of the island with the village and Fort de Sainte Agathe. In the background, the continent with the Giens peninsula.

The last photo shows the north east of the island with the bay, east to the village.

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