Discover Giens: Coastal Paths, Salt Marshes and Heritage

Giens is a peninsula with a double tombolo, coastal paths and salt-related heritage. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your trip: landscapes and paths, seasonal birdwatching, and historic sites.

Double Tombolo and Landscape

The Giens peninsula is connected to the mainland by two alluvial sandbars, each 4 km long, which together form a double tombolo. The salt marshes lie between the two sandy arms. The term describes the peninsula’s double connection to the mainland and its shape; the marshes lie in the area between the two sandbars. The land connection and natural environment can therefore be understood as two aspects of the same geographical feature.

Coastal Paths and Seasonal Considerations

The Sentier du littoral runs around the Giens peninsula, passing cliffs, Mediterranean woodland and small coves. The route therefore connects a variety of landscapes. The Route du Sel on the western tombolo is suitable for walks and bike rides. The difference is clear when choosing between them: the Sentier du littoral is defined by its route around the peninsula, while the Route du Sel offers two suitable activities. In winter, the Route du Sel is closed to cars to protect the environment. If you include the route in your travel plans, take the seasonal closure into account and check local conditions in advance.

The salt marshes between the two sandy arms of the double tombolo provide a refuge for migratory birds. Depending on the season, more than 80 bird species can be observed from the double tombolo. The locations should be distinguished: the marshes are the refuge, while the birdwatching opportunity relates to the double tombolo. If birdwatching is important to you, take the season into account when planning your trip.

Salt Pans and Historic Sites

The Salin des Pesquiers was established in 1848 and has a geometric layout typical of Mediterranean salt pans. The Tympan building now houses a museum area that explains the site’s salt-related heritage. The built heritage of the salt pans and its interpretation in the museum can therefore be considered side by side.

The Église Saint-Pierre in Giens was built in 1880 to replace an earlier chapel. Its nave is decorated with trompe-l’œil paintings created by Philippe Métaireau in 1997. Trompe-l’œil refers to an illusionistic painting technique. The dates mark different stages: 1880 refers to the construction of the church, while 1997 refers to the later decoration of the nave. The building’s history and its artistic decoration can therefore be considered separately.

The Fort du Pradeau was built in 1634 under the authority of Cardinal Richelieu. Chronologically, it predates the Salin des Pesquiers of 1848 and the paintings of 1997. The dates span a 17th-century structure, a 19th-century salt pan and an artistic work from the late 20th century.

Another cultural site is the Greek sanctuary of Aristée at La Badine on the Giens peninsula. The Olbia team offers the opportunity to discover it. As the visit formats may change, check in advance how the site is currently presented to visitors.

When considering Giens as a destination, one specific question can help: would you like your trip to focus on coastal paths, seasonal birdwatching, or salt-related and architectural heritage? These focuses can help you decide whether Giens suits your travel plans, after which you can look for hotels for your stay in Giens.

Discover more destinations: La Valette-Du-Var, Ampus, Tourves, La Garde, Fox-Amphoux, La Celle, Six-Fours-Les-Plages, Saint-Paul-En-Forêt

Back to the regional travel guide: Var.