Bandol, a small French commune situated on the Southern coast just east of Toulon, is a serene resort in a sheltered bay. For good reason is it known as the ville tranquille, as many French families travel there for respite from their crowded city lives. Whilst becoming steadily more recognised by tourists, especially during the summer months, Bandol remains quintessentially French throughout the worst of the summer.
Tourism in the South of France
The Provence region in France attracts growing numbers of tourists each year and Bandol is no exception. The Var district in which it is located has long held an attraction for French people throughout the country and now foreigners are increasingly more common there. That said it is still possible, though rare, to spend an entire day in Bandol or a neighbouring town and hear solely French being spoken. Most locals have at least a working command of English and so can communicate with non-French speakers, however many do so grudgingly, preferring to be addressed in their native language. Many tourists hear of Bandol through word-of-mouth as its coverage in media outlets is almost nil. Those who have heard of it do so in the main through knowledge of its wine.
French Wine and Bandol
Wine has been made in the Provence region for over 2600 years, ever since the ancient Greeks founded the nearby city of Marseilles. Within this region Bandol is one of the most recognised growing zones. Due to being positioned in such a sheltered spot Bandol boasts excellent conditions for wine growing, especially when combined with the amount of sunlight that floods the region. A trip to one of the vineyards is an interesting and educational experience. The majority of the wine produced in Bandol is red (about 70%) with much of the rest being rosé. White wine only makes up a tiny amount of the region’s wine production. The weather is only one reason for Bandol’s wine to be so unique as it is the sole region in Provence, indeed in France, to be so focused on the Mourvedre grape. Bandol’s wine output appears to favour quality over quantity due to the relative infertility of the soil. This creates one of the lowest yields of French wine throughout the country. The Chateau de Pibarnon is probably the most famous of Bandol’s domaines,
Holiday in the Sun
Visitors to Bandol are enchanted by the friendliness of both the people and the weather. The proximity to the Mediterranean means that the summer sun is fierce, even dangerous in its full force; this attracts those who wish to spend their holiday tanning on a beach or by a pool. Out of the main tourist season however, and Bandol is still an idyllic destination. The clement nature of its winter means that after the crowds have disappeared one can still enjoy the beauty of the scenery without feeling trapped behind windows and walls.
Holidays in sunny Provence can often feel sweaty and cramped as tourists swarm round. Although there are ever-increasing numbers of visitors each summer Bandol, for now, is a refuge from that.
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