Le Lavandou, Cote d'Azur / French Riviera
Le Lavandou or “The City of Dolphins” is an old fishing village on the shores of the Mediterranean. Although the name of this charming town is reminiscent of lavender, know that it would rather be inspired by the Provençal term, lavadou, which means, washhouse. Nestled at the foot of the Massif des Maures, between Toulon and Saint-Tropez, the bay of Lavandou stretches out in a green setting over 12 kilometers of coastline with 12 magnificent fine sandy beaches.
Why this city?
Le Lavandou is one of the most famous seaside resorts in the Var. A paradise for divers, it has been awarded several labels for the quality of its water, its seabed and its beaches.
Family or sports, its vast beaches and small wild coves are available to you! They each have a name: Anglade, Grande Plage, Saint-Clair beach, Fossette beach, Aiguebelle beach, Elephant beach, Jean-Blanc beach, Rossignol, Layet beach, Cavalière beach, Cap Nègre beach and Pramousquier beach. You will be able to discover them one by one until you find your favorite!
Enjoying the famous mild and dry climate of the Var with nearly 300 days of sunshine a year, many artists have settled down in Le Lavandou during their lives. Painters, such as Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse and Nicolas de Staël, or writers, such as André Gide and Jean Cocteau have already let themselves be seduced by the landscape.
Not to be missed on holiday in Le Lavandou
You can of course take advantage of the lazy atmosphere of the beaches, but also let yourself be tempted by a bucolic stroll along the Mediterranean. Thus, follow the coastal path which winds for nearly 3 kilometers from the port of Le Lavandou and enjoy the view: a unique panorama of the Golden Islands. You can take one of the daily shuttles and sail to these magnificent islands, away from time: Porquerolles, Port Cros and Le Levant.
Art lovers will not be able to leave without visiting Villa Théo, the former home of the painter Théo Van Rysselberghe, where you will find multiple collections of works of art.
The Lavandou Provençal market is held every Thursday morning. Come and breathe in the scent of seasonal products and taste the typical dishes of the region!
Places to visit on holiday from Le Lavandou
On the sea side, it is possible to organize boat trips to discover the Var coast to the Fort de Brégançon in Bormes-les-Mimosas or to Saint-Tropez.
On the land side, a pretty 6 km pedestrian circuit is marked out from Le Lavandou to the old village of Bormes-les-Mimosas: the Saint-François trail. The medieval village offers a magnificent view of the region.
Go to Collobrières, capital of the chestnut, in the heart of the forest of the Massif des Maures. Take advantage of its beautiful hikes under the coolness of the groves. Do not miss to visit its flowery alleys and its elegant chapels.
