Porquerolles

The Ile de Porquerolles is the largest island in the archipelago of Hyères ( or Îles d' Hyères Iles d' or). It lies off the French Mediterranean coast in the region of Côte d' Azur near Toulon.

Porquerolles can be reached from the peninsula Giens and other nearby ports in just a few minutes by boat. The island has a size of 1254 ha and lies on the same latitude as the Cap Corse. This results in a particularly southern climate. The island is about 7.5 km long and 3 km wide. The coast is about 30 km long. The highest elevation is 142 m. There is a small harbor and the island village (about 350 inhabitants) with restaurants and shops on the north side of the island. The church dates from the years 1849 to 1851.

Also on the north side of the island there are some beautiful sandy beaches: the Plage d'Argent in the West, the Plage de la Courtade on the east side of the town and the Plage de Notre -Dame in the far east of the island. The south coast is rather unsuitable for swimming because the shore drops steeply. At the southern tip, the Cap d' arms, stands a lighthouse which can be climbed.

The island in the early 19th century, was first settled by former soldiers of Napoleon. In the 20th century until the late 1930s, the entire island then belonged to the Belgian engineer Jean -Francois -Joseph Fournier, who ruled here like a prince.

1971 Madame Pompidou persuaded her husband, French President Georges Pompidou to buy the island on behalf of the state. She was placed under the protection of the National Park of Port-Cros and the State Institute for Marine Botany ( Conservatoire Botanique National de Porquerolles Méditerranéen ). The island has therefore retained its original charm despite the especially in summer day on them attacking tourist flows ( to each of the island inhabitants, there are up to 30 mainland visitors).

To protect against the uncontrolled spread of forest fires, a strip was cleared land and leased to a Alsatian winemakers to plant vines. The gekelterte from these vines Domaine de la Courtade enjoys an excellent reputation.

On the eventful past of the island remember some scattered over the island fortifications. Towering above the island town Fort Sainte -Agathe can be visited from June to September. Among other numerous ancient artifacts are shown from the seabed.

The novels My Friend Maigret ( Original title: Mon ami Maigret ) and The Holiday of Monsieur Mahé (Original title: Le cercle des Mahé ) by Georges Simenon play on the island.