The port of Saint-Mandrier
The retro charm of a secret portLa balade des gens heureux
The port of Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, also known as Creux de Saint-Georges, embodies the charm of Mediterranean harbors. Sheltered in an unspoilt bay, this harbor offers an idyllic haven for yachtsmen and visitors in search of authenticity. Lined with lively cafés and picturesque boutiques, the harbour has a warm, friendly atmosphere. The many traditional “pointus” add a colorful dimension to this seascape. The port of Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer combines maritime tradition with a gentle way of life, and its Provencal beauty is a delight in every season.
5 good reasons to enjoy life in Saint-Mandrier
- The cheerful colors of the pointus moored in the harbor
- La dolce vita on sunny terraces
- Discussions with passionate SNSM lifeguards
- The unusual pyramidal tomb in the Franco-Italian cemetery
- The pleasure of a stopover before taking the boat to Toulon
A sailor’s story
Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is well known to sailors. On the harbor quays, you’ll find military personnel, trained in the schools of the French Navy, and sailors pampering their yachts. The traditional fishing boats return from the sea and their stalls fill up for the day’s sale: sea bream, sars and rock fish for soup are all on display. The marine atmosphere is prolonged by the moment when you let yourself be tempted by these Mediterranean treasures and the fresh produce bought at the Saturday morning market.
A detour to the Domaine de l’Ermitage
Between the village and La Coudoulière beach lies the Domaine de l’Ermitage. Formerly an agricultural property, the building is now a Heritage House, and the estate a place to stroll through themed or vegetable gardens. When his store is open, fill your basket with freshly harvested produce: fruit and vegetables, but also eggs just laid by the hens in the estate’s barnyard.
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Dolce vita on the terrace
The picturesque port of Saint-Mandrier is the ideal place to take your time and enjoy the local gastronomy. For lunch, a coffee or a refreshing sundae, seaside café terraces offer an idyllic setting to relax and enjoy the sea air.
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The unusual Franco-Italian cemetery
Perched among the umbrella pines, overlooking Toulon’s harbor and military vessels, the Franco-Italian cemetery – or French-Italian national necropolis – is a singular place of peace. In the French section, we lay to rest mainly French soldiers and sailors who fell in the First World War, as well as a few European servicemen.
The Italian section features a colombarium containing the remains of soldiers who died in the south of France during the Second World War. The centerpiece of the cemetery, and the highlight of your visit, is the tomb of Admiral de Latouche-Tréville, the great sailor who commanded L’Hermione, in the form of an 8-meter-high pyramid flanked by two sphinxes.
How do I get there?
By waterbus: Saint-Mandrier is a peninsula that may seem to be “at the end of the world”. If you’re on the Toulon side of the bay, take the Réseau Mistral’s 28M boat-bus service from Toulon harbor to cross the bay (two stops are possible on either side of Saint-Mandrier harbor). So you can avoid traffic jams and enjoy the splendid scenery.
By car: from La Seyne-sur-Mer, follow signs for Les Sablettes, then Saint-Mandrier. The winding road leads to the village. Several free or blue-zone parking lots are located in the city center.