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Var
Breathtaking Var is bounded on the north by the Basses Alpes, to the east by the Alpes-Maritimes, and on the south by the Mediterranean.
The prosperous coast line, which is one of the most picturesque and varied in France, runs from the Gulf of La Ciotat in the west to Cape Camarat in the east and from the Gulf of St Tropez in the south to that of La Napoule in the north.
This makes the hilly plains and sandy coasts of Var the location of an enviable climate, one which is remarkably fine and mild on the coast, where there is complete shelter from the wind.
The area’s highest point is the Signal des Chens (5620 feet) located in its north-east corner. To the west lies the chain of the Ste Baume connected to the hills above Var’s main city Toulon—with its celebrated grotto has now become a frequent site for visiting pilgrims paying homage to the place where St. Mary Magdalene is said to have taken refuge.
The western shores of the Var region is dotted with civilizations past featured under the sand-covered remains, such as the Phocaean city of Tauroentum, the peninsula of Cape Sicie (on which rises the chapel of Notre Dame de la Garde), as well as the little ports of Bandol and St Nazaire
Var’s capital city is Toulon, a maginificent harbour used by the French navy fleet as its home base. A historic city with an ancient past, full of Roman ruins beneath its narrow cobblestone foottrails. A cultural magnet in the moderm sense, the city is also known for a lively arts and musical scene, most exemplified by a progressive local opera company.
