Île du Levant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beach at Ile du Levant
Beach at Ile du Levant
Board at the trail to the beach
Board at the trail to the beach

Île du Levant, sometimes referred to as Le Levant, is a Mediterranean French island off the coast of the Riviera, near Toulon. It is one of the three that constitute the Îles d'Hyères of France. The island is 8 km long, 2 km wide, and located in the Gulf of Lion (geographical coordinates: 43°03' northern latitude, 6°28' eastern length). About 90% of the island is off-limits to the public, reserved for a military missile test center (the Centre d'Essais de Lancement de Missiles) which has launched numerous research and testing rockets since its establishment in 1948.

In 1931, Gaston and André Durville, both doctors, established Héliopolis, Europe's first town dedicated to naturism, on the island. The town was built on hillsides and is dominated by Fort Napoleon. The Bain de Diane and the Plage des Grottes (a nude beach) are reserved for naturists.

Outside of Héliopolis, the other main tourist attraction is the Domaine des Arbousiers, a natural reserve.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 43°03′N, 6°28′E