Bandol hikes

The Var is one of the most wooded French departments. Our region has 1 hectares of forest cover, bringing together 400 plant species, 000 of which are protected. This space is precious, let’s preserve it!

our recommendations

• Respect the trails in order to limit soil erosion and vegetation degradation.
• Do not pick flowers and other plants in order to contribute to the protection of rare species.
• Do not smoke or light a fire in nature. Our region is subject to heat waves but also to strong winds. Fires can spread at high speed and cause irreversible damage.
• Bring your garbage with you or throw them in the bins available to protect the environment and prevent bottles, bags and other rubbish from ending up at sea.
• Take care of your dog so as not to disturb the wildlife on the trails.

A good preparation

Before starting a hike, make sure you are well equipped! Remember to take with you:

• Good walking shoes.
• What to protect you from the sun : hat, cap, t-shirt, sunscreen…
• Some water in sufficient quantity, especially in summer!
• A fogger to hydrate you in the event of a heat wave.

Also remember to inquire on the routes, markings, restrictions, access conditions and other information concerning your trail. This will allow you to fully enjoy your day and especially not to find yourself in delicate situations!

LOCAL fauna & flora

Posidonia is a very slow growing marine plant (1 cm / year), classified as a protected species since 1988. The seagrass that it forms produces large quantities of oxygen. They serve as shelter, breeding ground, spawning ground, nursery and even pantry for many animals.

It also protects our coasts from erosion. You will certainly find some on our beaches between November and April. It is a sign of the good health of our coastline!

From the month of June, when the great heat arrives, they emerge from the ground to sing all summer long. We are of course talking about our cicadas ! These small identity insects from the South of France. Their song will accompany you throughout your walks at least until the end of August. And you can even find their chrysalis on the ground… So keep an eye out!

If you are lucky, you may come across, during a hike, a Peregrine Falcon. There was a time when their population was very present in our territory. Today, they are rarer which makes them a protected species. Their repopulation is also strongly encouraged and some of them regularly return to nest on the cliffs of our coastal pathInter Bandol et Saint-Cyr.

You will also have the opportunity to cross vegetations with particular paces like the umbrella pine. The pine is probably the tree that best represents our coasts. We can observe it most often bent towards the sea. Besides the fact that the landscape is very beautiful to look at, the pines are mostly victims of the mistral which, with its strong gusts, manages to bend even the oldest tree!

They are delicious, but have a spicy character, here prickly pears. Their tree, the prickly pear, is recognizable by its large racket-shaped leaves that are grafted on top of each other. Each racket ends in fruit-flowers, red purple or yellow whose grainy flesh is edible and delicious for amateurs. But beware ! The fruits, as much as the leaves are covered with small clusters of very fine thorns which it is very difficult to get rid of if you get stung!

During your walk, you may also come across many Agaves (or Aloes), with their fat and spiny leaves, green edged with yellow. You will also see beautiful plants of Seacrystal otherwise called “Perce pierre” or “Sea fennel”. This fleshy plant is very present on our seaside. Not to mention the Alfalfa Tree to flamboyant yellow, reaching up to 3m in height. And finally, the Holm Oak, Yeuse or Rouve in Provençal with its hard, heavy and very resistant wood used in cabinetmaking.

Now that you know everything there is to know about our trails, choose your hike!