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PRESENTATION OF THE ISLAND

The Porquerolle Island along with the Port-Cros and Levant islands are owned by the archipelago of the Hyère Islands situated off the coast of the county Var. Porquerolles used to be joined to the Maures mountain range until it was cut off by rising water 20 000 years ago after the ice melt.

The island covers a total surface of 1257 hectares and faces East-West. It is 7km long and 3 km wide. 5 chains of wooded hills separate the cultivated fields that open over the sea and the sandy beaches.

The south and east coasts are the highest points of the island and are constructed of abrupt cliffs that dive into the crystal clear sea.

Upon the wishes of the president Georges Pompidou in 1971, the state purchased the majority of the island to avoid urbanisation. On the 20th June 1985, 1000 hectares were donated to the Port-Cros National Park who took over the management.

The Porquerolles Islands are a protected site since 1988 along with an aquatic perimeter of 500m starting from the coast line. 

One of the major advantages of the island for families with children who want to come and bike ride is that it is fully pedestrianised. Even though it is preferable for children to know the road code so as to cycle in harmony with the other visitors, there is no risk from cars.

One must access the island by ferry and you may either take your own bikes or hire them on site. Most of the bike hire shops have children’s bikes and adult’s ones equipped with or without baby seats and helmets and you can even hire children’s caravans that fix onto the bikes.

If you would like to lengthen your stay to make the most of the island there are various hotels avaialble. We recommend the hotel residences Les Medes situated just a few minutes walk from the port and the main square. It has hotel rooms or spacious apartments with a fully equipped kitchen area, adapted for families.

It also has a very pretty garden with a waterfall, a table tennis table and a lounge area.

Cots and high chairs are on hand for babies and there is a kids menu in the restaurant. If you stay outside of the months of July and August, children stay free of charge.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FAMILIES

• A pedestrian island.
• Pathways for different levels of bike riders.
• Bike hire shops on site with lots on offer to ride with or carry children.
• Vegetation and sandy beaches that compare to Caribbean islands!
• A nice boat ride to get to the island.
• A destination for one day or longer. 

SOURCES

• Bureau d’Informations de Porquerolles

Article modified in May 2010.
Attention : Informations et images non contractuelles sous réserves de modifications ultérieures.