LE LAVANDOU

DOLPHIN CITY

Known as the "City of Dolphins", Le Lavandou is located by the sea.
Discover our top 3 places to visit:
- The Villa Théo, Art Center of Lavandou
- The restanques of Saint-Clair, a huge vegetable garden of 6 hectares
- The wine estate of Anglade, and its wine tasting.
A variety of activities are on offer:
- Water sports with kitesurfing, windsurfing and fishing schools...
- Pedestrian activities with the coastal path or the path of the painters.
As for gastronomy, discover 2 starred local institutions.
Le lavandou offers you a choice of the most varied restaurants.
For market fans, this seaside town organizes Provencal and organic markets all year round.
On the festive side, take part in the traditional festivals: La Saint-Pierre, the Corso fleuri, Le Romérage.
On the farniente side, this Var town offers more than 12 km of beach facing the islands of Le Levant and Pros Cros.

 

The Villa Theo

The Villa Theo is the house of the neo-impressionist Theo Van Rysselberghe.
Many artists and writers have been invited to this place: André Gide, Matisse, Jean Cocteau.
This villa in 19 was taken over by the commune to become an art center.
Throughout the year, permanent and temporary exhibitions are proposed.
Classic or contemporary exhibitions, there is something for everyone.
The villa Theo is part of the historical heritage of the city.

Opening hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm
Fee: Free

Restanques of Saint-Clair

Discover this immense organic vegetable garden of 6 hectares with a panoramic view on the bay of St-Clair.
On these 19th century terraces, all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowers are grown:
tomatoes, pineapples, beef hearts, peppers, eggplants...

The tourist office organizes guided tours of this site.
During these visits, explanations are given on :
- the functioning of the Noria*
- the irrigation system with many underground galleries
- the description of the crops and the know-how of the gardeners

*The Noria is a hydraulic machine dating from 1850.
It allows to raise the water by using the mechanical energy by a current.

Contact :
The tourist office to book the guided tours at 04 94 00 50 40
The site "Les restanques" at 04 94 05 15 70

Address:
Les Restanques de Saint-Clair
chemin du Pataras Saint-Clair
Le Lavandou

The Anglade domain

The Domaine d'Anglade is a wine estate located just a few steps from the sea.
Surrounded by pine trees and canes of Provence, come and taste their wine.
Guided tours are offered to make you discover the domain :
- its lake
- its vineyards
- its cellar
For wine lovers, wine tasting is offered.
This guided tour and tasting can only be done by reservation.
Book your guided tour at : 04 94 71 10 89

 

Opening hours

Guided tours take place in April.

The estate is open all year round:
October 1 to March 31
Tuesday to Saturday
10:00 to 12:30 and 15:30 to 18:30

April 1 to June 30
Monday to Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

From July 1st to August 31st
7D/7 except Sunday afternoon
From 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm

In September
Monday to Saturday
9:30am to 12:30pm and 4pm to 7:30pm

Address of Domaine de l'Anglade
Avenue Vincent Auriol
83980 Le Lavandou

Pedestrian activities

In the heart of a preserved nature, the Lavandou offers you hiking.

The coastal path

During this 3km hike, admire the panoramic view of the islands of Port-Cros and Levant.
You will find lush Mediterranean vegetation and a protected environment.

The Painters' Path

It is an invitation to a 2.5 km walk to discover artists.
This path leads you on the tracks of several neo-impressionist painters and writers.
These last ones having stayed in the district of Saint Clair :
Henri Edmond Cross, Théo Van Rysselberghe, Paul SIGNAC, Maximilien LUCE, Emile VERHAEREN and André GIDE...

Nautical activities

Various nautical and sports activities are offered:
boat rental, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking...
and even sea fishing.

All you have to do is choose!

Watersport

With Watersport you have the possibility to do :
- Water skiing, wakeboarding, monoskiing,
- Water games,
- Parasailing
10 minutes from the center of Le Lavandou, this water sports base is located on the beach of Cavalière in the direction of St Tropez.

To park you have a parking lot in front of the beach.
Don't hesitate to make a reservation!
07.86.85.09.75
Watersport website

 

Sailing school

With Ecole de voile de Cavalière you have the possibility to do :
- Windsurfing
- Optimist
- Catamaran
- Stand-up paddle
- Kayak

This school is located on the beach of Cavalière, next to Watersport.
On the spot you can have something to drink or eat with their restaurant/bar.

Book on 04 94 05 86 78 / 07 66 00 24 87
School opens on April 1st.

Boat rental

A trip at sea, or visit the islands, you have the choice with different boat rental:

Mistral Plaisance location
Click and Boat
Sam boat

Fishing at sea

With Titouan discover the aquatic fauna.
As a fishing guide, he will help you discover the world of sea and fresh water fishing.
With your family or friends, discover different fishing techniques:
the Girelle, the Pageot, the Sévereau, the Rascasse ... and also the barracuda with the troll!
A fun activity lasting 3 hours.
Located in the port of Lavandou, do not hesitate to contact him
Titouan Dognon-Schmitt contact@revedepeche.com 06 74 96 91 07

Provencal, organic, and equestrian markets

The Provencal markets

The Provencal markets take place every Thursday from 8am to 1pm all year round.
Each product varies according to the season.
These stalls of fruits and vegetables in season, is a show of colors and essences.
Several products are displayed: flowers, wines, local specialties, chestnuts, mushrooms and many other seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Open all year long
Every Thursday
From 8am to 1pm

 Market of Cavalière

Located on the boulevard des Acacias, the Cavalière Market takes place every Monday. You will find more than 90 stalls of different products: fresh produce, local products, fish, textiles, ...

Open from June to the end of September
Every Monday
From 8am to 1pm

The organic market

The organic market takes place on the square in the morning.
It is a moment of sharing with the locals, a place where everyone is both actor and spectator.

Open all year round
From June to September every Sunday
From October to the end of May Every 1st Sunday
From 8am to 1pm

Where to eat? Local institutions

Come to discover our inescapable Provencal dishes such as the bouillabaisse, the aïoli, the fish soup...

We present 2 local starred institutions:

The restaurant Les Tamaris and its famous bouillabaisse cooked over a wood fire!
Mr. Raymond concocts good Provencal dishes such as zucchini fritters, Mediterranean cuttlefish ...
A real treat for your taste buds.
Don't forget to book and if possible a table on the terrace facing the sea!
Les Tamaris : +33 4 94 71 07 22

L'arbre au soleil
Come and discover the cuisine of starred chef Yorann Vandriessche.
His cuisine is essentially focused on seafood: fish and shellfish.
With a panoramic view on the port, don't hesitate to book your table!
L'arbre au soleil : +33 4 94 24 06 04

In Le Lavandou, you will find many restaurants by the sea, in the old village, or on the beach. From Mediterranean cuisine to world cuisine, you have the choice!
The tourist office presents you the totality of the restaurants according to your tastes, for that click here

 

Festivals and Traditions

In March, the Corso Fleuri

The Corso Fleuri takes place in March with the arrival of spring.
It is a traditional festival among the lavandourains which welcomes many tourists.
In preparation for the festival, the inhabitants build floats.
They flower this carcass which will become a sublime float under the eye of the artist, children, parents...
On the day of the festival, contemplate the parade of flowered floats. Admire this festival of color and music.
A flower fight is also planned.
If you like flowers and a good atmosphere, this festival is for you.

In July Saint Peter's Day, the fishermen's festival

The Saint-Pierre, the fishermen's festival is a traditional festival of Lavandou.
It takes place in July and pays tribute to the sailors who died at sea and to its patron saint.
The procession starts at the church of Saint Louis du Lavandou and ends at the port with a trip to the sea for a blessing of the waves.
Escopette salutes, Vidauban's bravadeurs, drummers, folk dancers give rhythm to the ceremony.
It ends with a trip to the sea to bless the boats so that fishing is abundant.

In September, the shopkeepers' market

In the heart of the city, come and attend the braderie.
It takes place in September during 4 days.
You have the opportunity to make bargains with discounts up to 70%.
It is the occasion to treat yourself and change your wardrobe!

 In September Le Romérage, which

The Romérage is usually held on the second weekend of September.
This festival is animated by trombones, songs and dances.
The procession leads the participants from the church of Saint-Louis to the square of the Saint-Clair chapel (2km).
The commune of Le Lavandou lends you costumes to immerse yourself in the festival as in the past!

Beaches of Lavandou

Le Lavandou is an ideal place to recharge your batteries.

From l'Anglade to Pramousquier, 12 beaches of fine sand stretch over 12 km:
1) La Plage de l'Anglade
2) La Grande Plage, beach of the city center.
3) The beach of Saint-Clair
4) The beach of la Fossette
5) The beach of Aiguebelle
6) The beach of l'Eléphant
7) The beach of Jean-Blanc
8) The beach of Rossignol
9) The beach of Layet
10) The beach of Cavalière
11) The beach of Cap Nègre,
12) The beach of Pramousquier

History of Lavandou

Le lavandou is a town located on the French Riviera on the Var side.
Formerly a district of Bormes-les-Mimosas and inhabited by Genoese and Catalan fishermen, it became a fishing village.
In 1909 it claims a communal autonomy to Bormes-les-Mimosas.
In 1913, Le Lavandou obtained its independence.
From then on, it was the first town to have a fishing port in the Var.
Named "La cité des Dauphins", this authentic fishing village is located between the sea and the mountains.
Facing the islands of Levant and Port-CrosLe Lavandou stretches over 12 km of coastline. While on the other side it faces the Maures massif.