Porquerolles Island (Ile de Porquerolles) Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Var (83) Altitude: 0-142 m Size: 7 by 3 km; 4 by 2 miles Nearby:      [ Calanques | Hyères | Hyères Islands | Port-Cros Island ] Photos:             1  A distant view of the village-port and the Tour Ste-Agathe, from Fort de la Repentance. (28 k)             2  Panoramic view of the port, looking out from behind. (34 k)             3  Village square and church, with Tour Ste-Agathe above. (28 k)             4  Plage de la Courtade beach, looking towards the village. (23 k)             5  Looking down on the bay and Plage de Notre-Dame at the east end of the island. (26 k)             6  Rocky cliffs and calanques on the south side, towards Pointe de Gabian. (33 k)             7  Calanque La Grand Cale, with an anchored boat. (37 k)             8  The "Semiphore", from a far hill while hiking. (12 k)             9  Fuzzy seagull chicks at their nesting place in the rocks. (25 k) Below: [ Transportation | Cycling | Hiking | ] Porquerolles is a mostly un-inhabited island of Mediterranean forests, rocky calanque coastline, nature reserves, beaches, boating and one little village. No camping is allowed on the island. No smoking is allowed beyond the village. No drinking water is available on the island, except at the village. Nature. Porquerolles Island is a great place for walking or cycling in nature. In addition to the natural pines and pin parasol, myrtle, heather and fields of white cistus [see Wildflowers and Trees], there are botanical plantations of trees and shrubs, and even a vineyard.     The calanques small inlets in the rocky-cliffs along the southern coastline of the island -- wild and beautiful [photo-6, photo-7].     If you're there in the springtime, you might see some of the baby seagulls in their nests in the rocks on the high points of the island [photo-9]; don't get too close though, because the parents are big and aggressive. Beaches. There are several long sandy beaches along the north side of the island. The Plage de la Courtade [photo-4] is close enough for an easy walk from the village. The Plage de Notre-Dame is about 3 km along the coast to the east. To the west there are several smaller beaches set in small coves. Village. Porquerolles is a little seaside-resort village, with yacht harbor, port area, restaurants and cycle-rental shops. There is a large, open village square in the style of a North African colonial settlement, lined with large eucalyptus trees; the village church sits at the end, with the 16th-c St Agatha's Fort on a hilltop behind [photo-3]. It's a short walk up to the fort, with a great view at the top. If you only have a short time, we would suggest a walk past the Plage de la Courtade (or Grande Plage) to the Fort de la Repentance and to the semaphore; both have excellent views out across the plains and seaside and the Plage de Notre-Dame cove [photo-5] ; and if it's clear, the other islands and the mainland (about 2 hours out and back). The Fort appears as a low, fortified structure on the hilltop, with (dry) moat all around. In fact, it's mostly underground inside the hill. It's still an active fort, so no entry, although it's alright to explore around it. When we passed by, the troops were barbequing lunch, and the only unfriendlyness we encountered were the attack seagulls when we got too close to their nests with fuzzy young hatchlings in the nearby rocks [photo-9].     A walk across the island to the lighthouse (phare) is popular, passing through botanical plantations including fig trees and olive trees. (Panels even show the variety of each individual olivier.) The area near the lighthouse has good views of the calanques. Transportation Our Travel-Sea page lists the passenger ferry schedules. Cycling There are many bicycle rental shops (Location VTT) in Porquerolles village, within a couple minutes walk of the port, and some offer a wide variety of bicycles, up to full suspension models. Some typical prices for the day (for standard mountain bikes) are: Adult bike - 75 F Kid's bike - 60 F Baby seat (porte bébé) - 15 F Fishing We don't know the fishing season or rules, but fishing gear is offered for rental at the shops at the port. Hiking Maps: IGN (1:25,000) 3446 OT "Hyères, Porquerolles" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #25 "Maures, Haute-Pays Varois" Michelin "green" #114 (1/100,000) - "French Riviera - Var" The "Information" office at the port has maps of the island. A simple black-and-white map is 3 F. A nice glossy-paper color map of the island and the village is 10 F. The island is too big to explore thoroughly in a single day, especially on foot. On bicycle you could probably cover most of it, briefly. We walked from the village across the island to the phare at the south side in about 30 minutes. From the phare along the calanques to the semaphore took 2 hours, with long legs but slow photography along the way. Be sure to take water with you. There's none available outside the village, and it can get hot, even with the trees and the sea breeze. It's also not great for little kids (other than near the village or on bicycles). The paths can be long and hot, and the calanquecliff tops are "natural", unprotected by railings.