Bandol has been a port, a town, and a summer resort for many a year (writes Fabienne Reynolds). Today, it offers visitors tasteful sea views, glorious Provençal markets and landscapes, and is surrounded by vineyards. It will seduce you as it seduced Thomas Mann, Aldous Huxley, Katherine Mansfield, and Marcel Pagnol.

Located on the south-eastern coast of France, it is also a perfect destination for wine and food lovers. Bandol is a showcase for the colours of Provence with the added variations of white, rosé, and red.

Anchored between the sea and the hills, Bandol invites the visitor to discover its many charms whichever way they reach the destination. In the past, tourists would travel in luxury from Paris on board the famous Blue Train, and nowadays most visitors arrive by car or by boat. If sailing there, you will be greeted by a succession of no less than thirteen bays complete with beaches of fine golden sand.

Bandol has been a port since antiquity, and barrel making was the livelihood of many a Bandolais. The protected moorings now attract boats of various proportions, including yachts, great sailing vessels and professional fishing boats, and with a capacity of 1,600 spaces, it can accommodate many visitors. Sea activities are plentiful thanks to the Société Nautique, whose motto is “Seafarers serving seafarers”, and many events await you.

When you reach the town, do resist the impulse of buying a map. The best way to experience Bandol is by strolling around its streets and taking the time to appreciate every corner. This will make every discovery all the more rewarding; a colourful square, a wonderful garden, a great restaurant or a Provençal market. Bandol is known as the ville tranquille for a very good reason.

The town has remained authentic despite providing quality tourism, and it is one of the beauty spots on the French Riviera. It is one of the largest and oldest seaside resorts on the coast with all related activities on offer, and its clear waters and interesting sea life makes it an ideal spot for scuba divers.

But above all, Bandol is a place to relax, a place to feast the eyes with a glorious mix of colours and to inhale the fragrant aromas that float in the air from the sea, the pine trees and the herbs. Promenades and quays will also provide you with tempting walks and views across the port and the sea beyond. The beach will then invite you to rest for a few moments before resuming your tour.

It is the surrounding area that produces the wonderful aromas of herbs, fruits and vegetables that linger around the markets and give flavour to the local cuisine. Bandol has given its name to the region, and l’arrière pays - the countryside - is full of delightful villages that are well worth a visit, even if you have little time. La Cadière d’Azur, perched by a cliff, has an interesting castle of Tuscan architecture, and Le Castellet is an amazingly well preserved 12th century walled village.

This sunny area, with no less than 3,000 hours of sunshine every year is also home to the famous Bandol wines. Spread between the guarrigue (Mediterranean scrubland) and the pine trees, these terraced vineyards produce wines that have made it to some of the most reputed tables. Fruity rosés and crisp whites are most renowned, but the smooth and fresh reds are equally worthy of the Bandol appellation. The area was one of the first in France to receive its ‘Appelation d’Origine Contrôlée’ or A.O.C. in 1941.

You will need a car to travel around as the vineyards that surround villages can cover a six to nine miles radius. If you follow the wine route from Bandol (La Route des Vins de Bandol), you will be able to stop at one of the many chateaux and sample the cru. It is impossible to list them all, but Pradeaux, Vannières, Lafran-Veyrolles and Tempier are some of the most famous wine growing properties.

Here, the south-facing vineyards get the full benefit of the sun. This is where the temperamental Mourvèdre vine has been tamed to produce the high quality blends that have secured the reputation of Bandol. The privileged location and fertile soil has enabled wine growers in Bandol to place their production as one of the highest quality in France.

Any visitor to Bandol and its surrounding areas will be seduced by this tranquil and welcoming place. If the likes of Marcel Pagnol and Haldous Huxley made it a favourite destination, this is a good enough recommendation to go by. You are in for a treat, a serene and quietly sophisticated treat, but for wine lovers, Bandol offers a taste of paradise on earth.

About the author

Fabienne Reynolds is a British/French freelance journalist and marketer who currently resides in England. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and likes to discover new places, foods and wines.

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