And if you go on vacation to Bandol this summer to recharge the batteries after these long months of confinement?

Bandol inevitably resonates in people's minds ... It is a name steeped in history and bursting with sunshine, which even before the boom in Saint-Tropez at the time of Brigitte Bardot, attracted holiday-makers such as Paul Ricard, Raimu, Louis Lumière and Katherine Mansfield.

Bandol was thus one of the first seaside resorts in France, and remains today among the most authentic and pleasant in the Var and the Côte d'Azur.

Discover through this top 10 why Bandol is the destination to discover urgently on the Var coast!

1- Bendor Island, the preserved jewel of Bandol
 
 

The private island of Bendor is a timeless little gem. Access is from the port of Bandol via regular shuttles in just ten minutes. Despite its small size, this island gives a feeling of freedom and unspoiled wilderness with its small beaches with crystal clear waters. Purchased in 1950 by the industrialist Paul Ricard, this island was quickly fitted out by this benefactor with the creation of a port, a small village, hotels ... Passionate about the arts and himself an artist, Paul Ricard wanted to make this island the meeting place for artists and it is still dotted with statues and works of art that make visitors happy. For a stay on site: the Delos hotel with its quaint charm, with its dream pool, is a must.

2- The Coastal Path and its natural wonders
 
 

This 6.5 km footpath which runs along the hillside of the Mediterranean, between coves and umbrella pines, is a daydream in Bandol. During the ride, you can decide to take a dip, observe the endemic flora, listen to a cicada song and enjoy the simple pleasures offered by this wilderness. The start takes place on the small Reinette beach - southwest of the port of La Madrague - and ends in Bandol on Renécros beach. Many points along the route (Pointe Grenier, Pointe Fauconnière ...) offer lovely views. Do not miss a stop at Barry Beach where the first regulators' trials took place with Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his Mousquemers.

3- Bandol, land of gastronomy


Unlike some seaside resorts on the French Riviera, Bandol offers true gastronomy worthy of the name, far from simple snacks and brasseries. As proof, it has a starred table with its restaurant "Les Oliviers" where chef Jeremy Czaplicki excels in creativity. But, even more, Bandol is a gastronomy that has not stopped going upmarket in recent years with a true philosophy of good eating where short circuits and local products are privileged. Among the addresses of the moment not to be missed: the Chipote, the Oenotheque, Frangipane, Ness or the Amandon in Provence. To further discover Bandol gastronomy, do not miss the event "Bandol à table" which will take place from October 15 to 18, 2020. You will be able to discover the delicious cuisine of iconic restaurants in Bandol who will participate in this event, including Les Oliviers , Atelier du Goût, Chipote, Auberge du Port, Casino de Bandol restaurant, Au Clair de Vigne, Caravelle, Grand Large and the Mediterranean.

4- The famous Bandol wines
 
 

In the collective unconscious, Bandol is of course its wines. If it is above all the Bandol rosé that is popular, you should know that red and white are also high quality wines, much appreciated by connoisseurs. Since 1941, Bandol wines have been an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée and many vineyards can be visited in the vicinity of Bandol to better understand the specificities of the grape varieties of these world famous wines. But if you simply want to take part in an initiation, the Bandol wine oenotheque, place Lucien Artaud, will do the trick for a tasting session in town and a few bottle purchases in their shop.

5-Abundance of leisure in Bandol
 
 

Bandol has much more to offer than its beaches and a sunbathing session, which is certainly always very pleasant. It has a large number of leisure facilities: tennis courts with sea view, Casino, bowling, golf, nautical outings, scuba diving clubs, sea trips ... You can for example explore the creeks of Cassis , but also cetaceans on board ultra-modern and comfortable boats such as Atlantis 1,2 and 3 (hybrid) moored in the port of Bandol. Finally, there is no shortage of thrills for those who want it with the range of nautical activities that will take your breath away from BSN 83: jet ski, towed buoy, flyboard, wakeboard, etc. without forgetting the possibility of renting or privatizing a boat.
 
 6- The Bandol Promenade
 
 

On land, the seaside promenade is a real pleasure thanks to the free and vast wandering space it offers since its redevelopment following long work. In a few minutes, you can go from your beach towel to the promenade stores for a shopping session. There are souvenir shops as well as swimwear and beach accessories shops, and of course some ice cream parlors and terraces to quench your thirst. And for lovers of greenery, the Canet Park, located near the promenade, offers a wooded and classified setting which is a real delight for nature lovers, in addition to the essential coastal path.

7- A city rich in events and festivities
 
 

Bandol is of course the playground for Formula 1 enthusiasts since the city is near the famous Castellet circuit where many competitions take place.

It is also a street art festival with in particular the creation of portraits on the quay the week of July 27. At the beginning of August, the treasure hunt event with 6 characters is very popular with families, not to mention the lively terrace festival in August.

Finally, in December, you should not miss the illumination of the main buildings of the city which begins the town hall, crosses the square, behind the church, rue Marçon, before ending in style on the quay.

8- A tasteful hotel
 
 

The hotel offer in Bandol is varied and of high quality. The city offers hotel residences as well as 5-star guesthouses and establishments. Favorite for the Ile Rousse Thalazur Bandol hotel, feet in the water on the magnificent Renécros beach with crystal clear waters. Its Thalazur spa is ideal for relaxing after confinement, as is its infinity pool, the sublime shade of blue of which reproduces that of the sea, not to mention its star-studded table "Les Oliviers", the icing on the cake of this luxury hotel.
Just opposite, the Splendid Hotel, which has just been renovated, is the novelty of the summer; it offers boutique-hotel accommodation where each room has a private space decorated with contemporary art. Its swimming pool, dug in the rock in the basement, whose glass walls give on the outside is particularly original.

9- The Provencal markets
 
 

Bandol offers several picturesque and typical markets which smell of Provence and will delight lovers of local products. You can indeed find fruit, vegetables and local products from Bandol. These are small producers in the region who come to sell them directly to boaters, a logic which fits directly into the gastronomic philosophy of the city which intends to encourage short circuits. Meet at the daily market in Bandol from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the village square and at the Grand Marché, Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Quai Charles de Gaulle.

10- Exceptional cultural sites
 
 

Bandol is also culture which gives even more attractions to this little paradise town in the Var. It has been frequented by historical figures that everyone knows: Jacques-Yves Cousteau who carried out the first regulator tests during the dives in front of the Barry beach, Katherine Mansfield who long lived in the Beau Rivage building, now transformed in a superb charming hotel, Raimu who lived in Bandol in the eponymous villa which overlooks Renécros beach, the painter Roulezou who had his studio in Bandol, Louis Lumière - the inventor of cinema - who stayed regularly in Bandol where he finished his days, and, finally, Paul Ricard, the benefactor of Bandol who bought the island of Bendor and Les Embiez and made them tourist gems preserved from mass tourism.