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to complete the picture, we’ll also mention the Canoubié Hotel and the Mas des Romarins guesthouse. Stay a few days, and put off your departure till tomorrow… when you can immediately start planning your return.

introduce you to some of the island’s best-kept secrets.

However you choose to discover Embiez Island, don’t miss the winery. Over 10 hectares, these vines have been cultivated for more than a century. Red, white and rosé can be tasted in the cellar, with all necessary moderation, of course.

For those who would like to continue the experience for more than just one day, the Hélios Hotel offers 60 fully equipped rooms. Converts to balneotherapy won’t miss the occasion to enjoy the Héliovital center’s installations, accessible directly from the hotel. An apart-hotel offers panoramic views over the sea, the pine grove or the port. And

a valued refuge for sea birds, which brings joy to birdwatchers from around the world.

A tour of the island can be done on foot, over six or so kilometers. A nature track, scattered with themed signs, allows one to learn much of the history, geology, botany, and zoology of the island on one’s own, as well as the fragility of its eco-system. It is also possible to take off on a discovery tour of this natural heritage site accompanied by flora and fauna specialists, during the “Wednesdays at the Marine Institute.” And for those who prefer a more laid-back visit, the scenic railway, driven by an island expert, will

 

Credit must be given where credit is due: Embiez Island owes much to Paul Ricard, who bought it in 1958. There the Marseille entrepreneur built a well-known marina and a marine institute that bears his name. He charged himself with the task of making the archipelago an authentic expression of nature.

In the Brusc lagoon, meadows of Neptune Grass provide shelter for thousands of young fish, which enjoy the warm shallow waters. Across the 90 hectares of underwater land grow an astonishing 90% of the plant varieties known in the Mediterranean. An extremely protected natural reserve, Embiez Island is also

By Jean-Dominique Dalloz - Photos Société Paul Ricard SA - November 28, 2011

Of all the islands off the French Mediterranean coast, the little archipelago of Embiez certainly offers the most beautiful reading of a preserved natural environment, and what’s more, it’s accessible to everyone. Here’s a guided tour of this ocean pearl.

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Les Embiez
Six-Fours-les-Plages
Tél. : 04 94 10 65 20
www.les-embiez.com