Giens Peninsula
The Giens Peninsula is on the French Mediterranean coast near Hyères in the Provence-Alpes-C Côte d’Azur region. It’s a narrow, hilly strip that is actually a thin island connected to the mainland by two land bridges called tombolos. Between them lie old salt ponds that aren’t used for salt anymore; they’re now a marsh that’s known for its flamingos.
La Capte, a small village with hotels, restaurants, and holiday homes, sits on the east tombolo. The north side and the west tombolo have wide, shallow sandy beaches, while the south side has steep cliffs, many bays, and small ports. A hiking trail along the south side lets visitors reach the different bays.
Southeast of the peninsula is Île de Porquerolles, and to the east lie Île de Port-Cros and Île du Levant. The peninsula has extensive vineyards producing AOC Côte de Provence wines. It’s a popular tourist area with hotels, campsites, restaurants, and bars, and it offers water activities such as diving, sailing, and windsurfing. Because the tombolos make access easy, the area can be crowded in high season.
In 1879, a ship named Arrogante was driven ashore by a gale and ran aground on Badine beach, killing 50 sailors. A local doctor who treated the victims is honored with a plaque in Hyères.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:53 (CET).