And visit the Isle of Embiez

The Île des Embiez is a French island in the Mediterranean sea, located off the coast of the port of Le Brusc in the commune of Six-Fours-les-Plages, in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur – region in South Western France.

You have to catch a frequent daily ferry service runs to the island from Le Brusc a small fishing village on the coast. You may hop aboard a tourist train to take in the varied scenery, where beaches and rocky coast rub shoulders with salt marshes, pine forest, and then visit Paul Ricard’s Oceanographic Institute. The Île des Embiez has a 2 hotels, appartements and 5 restaurants.

The island has a strict environmental policy, its port which has has moorings for 750 boats was the first in the Var to be awarded for its ecological actions.

The island also has Blue Flag beaches and the surface is protected under Natura 2000 and was named the Best Mediterranean Port in France by Voile Magazine, a sailing publication.

Natural attractions include seven beaches, nature trails and a vineyard. You may also stay few days and rent a sail boat with a skipper to sail round the cost and explore Bandol, Cassis, Toulon … you may have a petanque party with the locals, rent a bicycle …

On this island, in the former Saint-Pierre Fort used by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Oceanographic Institute Paul Ricard houses a team of researchers year-round. An early industrialist but environmentalist and ecologist, Paul Ricard understood the challenges faced by the Mediterranean Sea and its wildlife, anxious to help preserve and understand the typical animals, fauna and flora. Birds visible on the island include the avocet, the plover, the grey heron, the cormorant and the kingfisher.

Paul Ricard bought the island in 1958. He was also well known as the founder of « Ricard », the pastis manufacturer. Have you ever taste this drink Le Pastis? A melange of anis, liquorice and various herbs. This favorite at bars primarily in the south of France took over after the total ban in 1915 of the absinthe concoctions in any form.

The 10 hectare (25 acre) vineyard is part of the Côtes de Provence AOC region, Its Côtes de Provence wine is made from Grenache and Cinsaut grapes. Its ‘Domaine des Embiez’ wines are available in rosé, (made from Cinsaut and Grenache grape varieties); white wine, (made from Ugni and Sauvignon), and red wine, with (Merlot and Cabernet grapes).

With such a wide variety of things to do on the isle of Embiez don’t miss this a unique experience, there are no cars, only rocky trails and secret coves of deep blue waters named calanques!

This splendid island will be the departure point for your dream sailing trip with us at My Sail Mediterranean cruise – Hire a skippered yacht or, if you’re a skipper yourself, steer your own course on a comfortable sailboat. That’s what heaven looks like !