The old town and the coastline of Toulon

Park at the free car park at Les Lices.

(S/E) Head east then south, keeping as close as possible to Vauban’s fortifications (dog walking route sign). Cross a pine forest and reach the bridge over the railway line. Take Rue François Fabié opposite until you reach Boulevard de Strasbourg. Cross it to reach the Ancien Évêché via Rue de Lorgues and Cours Lafayette.

(1) Turn right, then left into Rue Jean Aicard. On your right are the newly renovated market halls. Continue straight ahead and turn left into Rue des Boucheries, which you follow downhill. Turn right into Rue Émile Zola.

(2) On your right, Rue des Tombades is home to the oldest surviving houses in Toulon. This neighbourhood around the Cathedral dates back to the Middle Ages. Retrace your steps and head back along Rue Émile Zola in the opposite direction until you reach the Cathedral. Continue on, then turn right onto Cours Lafayette to reach the Cours Lafayette market.

(3) Walk past the Baroque church of Saint-François de Paule, then cross Avenue de la République to reach the harbour quay. Turn left onto it to head towards the commercial port.

(4) Turn right and continue along Avenue de l’Infanterie Marine, then Avenue des Tirailleurs Sénégalais, running alongside the wall of the Toulon Arsenal, and finally Avenue de la Tour Royale. Apart from a few views of the marina, this section is a bit tedious but gives a sense of Toulon’s military past. Head to the Tour Royale crossroads.

(5) Take the^first flight of steps on the right to reach the^16th-century Tour Royale. Head north-west towards the sea. At the fence, turn back and walk along the sea. Go round the Tour Royale on the right and continue along the coast. Depending on the tide and the season, you may need to take your shoes off. Watch out for slippery rocks. Pass several coves at Pointe de Pipady. Walk along the beaches of La Mitre via the Sentier des Douaniers until you reach Quai de Belle Rive.

(6) Follow this quay to reach Port Saint-Louis.

(7) Take the steps on the right and walk along the quay close to the water. Continue past the north side of Fort Saint-Louis and join the Littoral Frédéric Mistral. Shortly afterwards, turn right towards the Parc des Plages du Mourillon. Head towards the sea and walk past the shops to reach Anse de la Source.

(8) Cross the park to rejoin the Littoral Frédéric Mistral. Turn right onto Avenue du Pré des Pécheurs. Turn right onto Rue Beaussier, then immediately left down Rue Lamalgue. At the bottom, turn right onto Boulevard Bazeilles. Continue on to reach a large roundabout. Keep left onto Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny. Leave this boulevard on the left to take Allée du Lieutenant-Colonel Carmi, leading to the roundabout opposite the Mayol rugby stadium. Turn left towards the port at the Port Marchand junction, which you passed on the way there, rejoining your outbound route.

(4) Follow the route back along the harbour. Continue along Quai de la Sinse to reach Continue your walk along the harbour. to arrive in front of the Génie Maritime sculpture.

(9) Continue by taking Quai Cronstadt opposite until you reach the Naval Museum, whose entrance is the former gate of the arsenal. Walk past the gate of the current entrance and follow Avenue du Général Magnan. Before crossing Rue Anatole France, note the entrance to the former rope factory.

(10) Head towards Rue Pierre Semard, which has been known as Rue des Arts for several years now, with its many galleries and shops dedicated to the arts. Take the^second street on the left, Rue du Bon Pasteur, and go and see the ship’s prow emerging from a building. A little further on is the Greco-Roman-inspired Saint-Louis Church. Retrace your steps back to Rue des Arts, then continue along it and take the^third on the left, Rue Richard Andrieu. You’ll reach a renowned comic book shop on Place Puget.

(11) Head north-west and follow Rue Muraire or Rue Raimu. Walk past the Opera House and continue straight on along Rue Jean Jaurès. Cross Rue Henri Pastoureau and take the^secondright onto Rue Adolphe Guiol. At Boulevard de Strasbourg, you’ll find Place de la Liberté opposite you.

(12) Take the boulevard on the left, continue to the traffic lights and cross over. Follow Boulevard Général Leclerc to reach the MAT: Toulon Art Museum.
Enter the Jardin Alexandre^1er and you will arrive in the brand-new Chalucet district of Creativity and Knowledge. Head north and take the exit at the top right of the garden. Continue along Rue Chalucet, cross Boulevard Pierre Toesca and take the footbridge over the railway line. Turn right and follow Boulevard Louvois until you reach an underpass on the left. Follow Rue de Sainte Anne to reach the Lices car park (S/E).

We’re in town, so getting supplies isn’t a problem.
This walk isn’t just a stroll, as it will require some effort—not because of the 40m elevation gain, but due to the coastal sections and the need for good stamina.
Avoid flip-flops. Bring your swimwear in the right season.
Sundays and Mondays are less appealing. Other days of the week are also suitable. Personally, I quite like Saturday mornings without setting off at the crack of dawn – that is, around 9 or 10 am – and having a bite to eat in a cove or popping into a little restaurant on the beaches of Le Mourillon.
With stops, detours, a bit of a stroll and daydreaming, plus any museum visits, allow a good 4 to 5 hours.
Enjoy your walk.

(S/E) The Vauban fortifications

Between (2) and (3) The cathedral
(3) Cours Lafayette Market – another speciality here: cade
(5) The Royal Tower
(7) Port Saint-Lois: You can take the steps on the left, along the Littoral Frédéric Mistral (main road), to the Museum of Asian Arts and its beautiful garden.
Between (8) and (4) At the top of Avenue du Pré des Pêcheurs, a house with a rocaille decoration dating from 1898, shaped like a ruined tower.
(9) Cuverville
(9) Puget’s Atlantides
(11) Place Puget: The Fountain of the Three Dolphins
Next (12) The Hôtel des Arts.
Note: please note that Toulon’s museums are free of charge.
Between (12) and (S/E) Chalucet District of Creativity and Knowledge
See also the following links:
- onthe history of Toulon,
- onurban planning
- on Toulon’s heritage and monuments