Toulon was famed in Roman times for a purple dye made from shellfish. It is also where Napoleon Bonaparte gained his first military success when his bombardment from strategically placed guns caused the withdrawal of the combined Spanish - English fleet.
The town and naval base suffered during World War II when German troops tried to seize the French Fleet. The French scuttled 73 ships including submarines to stop them falling into enemy hands.
Today Toulon is a thriving industrial, manufacturing, naval and tourist city.
For more tourist information and history, see Premier Pages (Wine Regions, Places of Interest)