Toulon
Archaeological excavations at the Cosquer Cave near Marseille reveal that the coast of Provence was inhabited since at least the Paleolithic era. Greek colonists from Phocaea in Asia Minor arrived around the 7th century BC and established trading depots along the coast, including one called Olbia at Saint-Pierre de l'Almanarre south of Hyères. The Ligurians settled in the area beginning in the 4th century BC. In the 2nd century BC, residents of Massalia asked Romans to help pacify the region. The Romans defeated the Ligurians and founded a settlement named Telo Martius at the present location of Toulon. This name combined Telo, possibly for the local god of springs or from the Latin word tol meaning base of the hill, with Martius for the god of war. Telo Martius became one of two principal Roman dye manufacturing centers producing purple color used in imperial robes. The purple dye came from the local sea snail called murex and from acorns of oak trees. Toulon harbor eventually became a shelter for trading ships, and the town's name gradually changed from Telo to Tholon, Tolon, and finally Toulon.
Louis-Napoleon named Georges Eugène Haussmann prefect of Var department in 1849 serving only one year there. He laid out the current street plan for Toulon center using the same approach he would later apply to Paris. Improvements included the Toulon Opera House, Place de la Liberté, Grand Hôtel, Gardens of Alexander I, Chalucet Hospital, Palais de Justice, train station, and building now housing Galeries Lafayette. Haussmann went on to use identical style on much grander scale rebuilding central Paris. Prototypes for boulevards apartment buildings and parks he built in Toulon were copied in many large French cities. The upper town between Boulevard de Strasbourg and railway station was constructed mid-19th century under Louis Napoleon. Some parts of Vauban's fortifications running along present-day Boulevard de Strasbourg were removed so city could expand while other sections remain today. One visitable part is Porte d'Italie where Napoleon departed on his Italian campaign from 1796.
After Allied landings in North Africa Operation Torch German Army occupied southern France Case Anton leading French naval officers to scuttle French Fleet based at Toulon on the 27th of November 1942. City was bombed by Allies in November following year destroying much port and killing five hundred residents. Memorial Museum to Landings in Provence opened 1964 by President Charles De Gaulle commemorates Allied landing in Provence August 1944 with photos weapons and models located on Mount Faron summit. Atop Mount Faron cable car reaches top or narrow road ascends west side descends east side serving as stage for annual Paris-Nice bicycle race. Wind patterns include Mistral Tramontane Marin Sirocco and Levant creating distinctive weather conditions averaging 115 days strong winds annually. January averages twelve point five days strong winds making it windiest month while September sees seven days least windy month.
Museum of French Navy founded 1814 during Emperor Napoleon reign sits on Place Monsenergue west side old port near Hôtel de Ville behind former monumental gate to Arsenal built 1738. Building survived Allied bombardments containing displays tracing Toulon history as French Navy port including large 18th-century ship models teaching seamanship and aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle models. Museum of Old Toulon Region founded 1912 contains maps paintings drawings models artifacts showing city history. Museum of Asian Arts in Mourillon occupies house garden once belonging Jules Verne son grandson containing art objects donated naval officers from French colonization Southeast Asia period. Collection includes items paintings India China Southeast Asia Tibet Japan. Museum Art created 1888 holds modern contemporary art plus Provence paintings 17th century early 20th century featuring landscape artists Paul Guigou Auguste Aiguier Vincent Courdouan Félix Ziem Fauves Charles Camoin Auguste Chabaud Louis Mathieu Verdilhan. Contemporary collections span 1960 today representing New Realism Minimalist Support Surface movements photographs Henri Cartier-Bresson Dieuzaide Edouard Boubat Willy Ronis André Kertész.
Commune population reached 176,198 people 2018 making France thirteenth largest city third most populous Mediterranean after Marseille Nice. Urban unit contained 580,281 inhabitants 2018 ninth largest France by population. City serves important center naval construction fishing wine making aeronautical equipment armaments maps paper tobacco printing shoes electronic equipment manufacture. Military port major naval center France Mediterranean coast home French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle battle group. French Mediterranean Fleet based Toulon. University opened 1979 known until 2013 as University South Toulon-Var campus hosts KEDGE Business School conservatory teaching music theater dance circus art academy École supérieure d'art design Toulon Provence Méditerranée. Local public transport operates sixty bus routes three sea shuttle lines used thirty million passengers annually. Port main departure ferries Corsica nearest airport regional Toulon-Hyères Airport eighty kilometers from Marseille-Provence serving international destinations Europe Africa Middle East North America Asia linked city-center direct trains daily.
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Common questions
When was Toulon founded by the Romans and what was its original name?
The Romans founded a settlement named Telo Martius at the present location of Toulon in the 2nd century BC. This name combined Telo possibly for the local god of springs or from the Latin word tol meaning base of the hill with Martius for the god of war.
What happened to Toulon during the Ottoman alliance in 1543 under Francis I?
In 1543 Francis I invited Ottoman Admiral Barbarossa's fleet to winter in Toulon as part of a Franco-Ottoman alliance against the Holy Roman Empire. Residents were forced to leave except heads of household while Ottoman sailors occupied the town through winter.
How many people died in the plague that struck Toulon in 1720?
The city suffered devastating plague in 1720 that killed thirteen thousand people or half the population coming from Marseille. This event occurred after the War of Spanish Succession when Toulon successfully resisted siege by Imperial Army led by Duke Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia and Prince Eugene.
When did French naval officers scuttle their fleet based at Toulon during World War II?
French naval officers scuttled the French Fleet based at Toulon on the 27th of November 1942 following German occupation of southern France after Allied landings in North Africa Operation Torch. The city was bombed by Allies in November following year destroying much port and killing five hundred residents.
Who designed the street plan for Toulon center in 1849 and what improvements were made?
Louis-Napoleon named Georges Eugène Haussmann prefect of Var department in 1849 serving only one year there to lay out the current street plan for Toulon center using the same approach he would later apply to Paris. Improvements included the Toulon Opera House Place de la Liberté Grand Hôtel Gardens of Alexander I Chalucet Hospital Palais de Justice train station and building now housing Galeries Lafayette.