Port-Cros National Park

Port-Cros National Park is a French national park in Var, Alpes-Maritimes. The park is a Mediterranean park, in the coastal archipelago of the Hyères Islands and includes part of the island of Porquerolles, the islands of Port-Cros and Bagaud, the islet of Gabinière and the rock of Rascas as well as the surrounding waters. Created in 1963, the protection of the Port-Cros National Park covers both the natural land and maritime heritage.

It is the smallest of all national parks in France, with only an area of .

Understand

History

Created in 1963, the protection of the Port-Cros National Park covers both the natural land and maritime heritage. The park manages in particular the National Mediterranean Botanical Conservatory of Porquerolles, in charge of safeguarding the wild flora and endangered fruit varieties of the Mediterranean. In the appendix, it also manages, in collaboration with the municipalities of Hyères and La Croix-Valmer, the natural spaces acquired by the Coastal Conservatory of the Giens peninsula and Cape Lardier.

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Visitor information

Maison du Parc (House of the National Park), 43.0101077°, 6.3811791°, +33 4 94 01 40 70. vary depending on the arrival of the boats. 2015-06-01
Park website

Get in

From Toulon, take the A57 and the A570 northeast until Hyères. From Hyères, there are ferries that depart to the islands.

By boat to Port-Cros

From Hyeres: regular ferry service by TLV (€28,1 for a return adult ticked)
From Le Lavandou and Cavalaire-sur-Mer: April — September services by Vedettes Îles d'Or et Le Corsaire
From La Londe-les-Maures: April — October services by Bateliers de la Côte d'Azur

Fees and permits

Get around

See

Château Sainte-Agathe, 42.999653°, 6.20662°. A French castle made up of an artillery tower, an enclosure forming a plaza body and an advance. The tower is in a cylindrical shape, standing on two levels communicating through an oculus pierced at the top of the vault; the said tower is composed of a large circular room vaulted in a spherical dome and an open-air platform. 2021-12-20
Fort de l'Estissac, 43.0114492°, 6.385138°. in Summer open to the public 2015-06-01
Fort de la Repentance, 43.006°, 6.22306°. A fort which was built in the 19th century and now functions as an Orthodox monastery. The fort was listed as a historical monument in 1989. 2021-12-20
Phare du cap d'Arme, 42.9833°, 6.20611°. 2021-12-20
Église Sainte-Anne de Porquerolles, 43.000267°, 6.20398°. Made up of an artillery tower, an enclosure which forms a plaza body and an advance. 2021-12-20

Do

There are a number of walking trails crossing Port-Cros.

NB: Outside the village — Fort Estissac is the only place in Port-Cros there drinking water is available, so plan accordingly.

Buy

Eat

Sun Bistro, Rte des Forts, Île de Port Cros, 43.009977°, 6.382635°, +33 4 94 05 90 16. 08:00–01:00. 2021-12-20
Restaurant L'Endroit Hyères, 1 Av. Emile Gérard, Hyères, 43.074768°, 6.153504°, +33 4 94 58 00 97. 2021-12-20

Port-Cros

La Trinquette, 43.0101518°, 6.3824143°, +33 4 94 05 93 75. 2015-06-01
L'Anse de Port-Cros, 43.0101861°, 6.3820414°, +33 4 94 15 00 42. 2015-06-01
Le Manoir de Port-Cros, 43.006842°, 6.3843656°, +33 4 94 05 90 52, lemanoir.portcros@wanadoo.fr. Hotel / restaurant 2015-06-01

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

Le Manoir, Rte du Barrage, 83400 Hyères, 43.006904°, 6.384268°, +33 4 94 05 90 52. 2021-12-20

Port-Cros National Park - national park of France