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 46 km² (18 sq mi).

Understand

Port-Cros Harbour

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.

Visitor information

• 1 Maison du Parc (House of the National Park) (next to the landing stage), ☏ +33 4 94 01 40 70. vary depending on the arrival of the boats. (updated Jun 2015)
• 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
• From Bormes-les-Mimosas: April - October services by Latitude Verte aboard a hybrid boat.

See

• 1 Château Sainte-Agathe. 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. (updated Dec 2021)

Fort de l'Estissac

• 2 Fort de l'Estissac. in Summer open to the public (updated Jun 2015)
• 3 Fort de la Repentance. 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. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Phare du cap d'Arme. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 Église Sainte-Anne de Porquerolles. Made up of an artillery tower, an enclosure which forms a plaza body and an advance. (updated Dec 2021)

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.

Eat

• 1 Sun Bistro, Rte des Forts, Île de Port Cros, ☏ +33 4 94 05 90 16. 08:00–01:00. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Restaurant L'Endroit Hyères, 1 Av. Emile Gérard, Hyères, ☏ +33 4 94 58 00 97. (updated Dec 2021)

Port-Cros

• 3 La Trinquette, ☏ +33 4 94 05 93 75. (updated Jun 2015)
• 4 L'Anse de Port-Cros, ☏ +33 4 94 15 00 42. (updated Jun 2015)
• 5 Le Manoir de Port-Cros, ☏ +33 4 94 05 90 52, lemanoir.portcros@wanadoo.fr. Hotel / restaurant (updated Jun 2015)

Sleep

Lodging

• 1 Le Manoir, Rte du Barrage, 83400 Hyères, ☏ +33 4 94 05 90 52. (updated Dec 2021)