Geography of Toulon
Toulon, France, a city and seaport in Var Department in Provence. It lies on the Mediterranean Sea, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Marseille. Toulon is a naval base, commercial port, and industrial center. The harbor, protected by Saint-Mandrier Peninsula, has five basins. Industries include shipbuilding, fishing, and winemaking.
Toulon, called Telo Martius in Roman times, was held by the viscounts of Marseille until 1259, when it was conquered by Charles I, king of Naples and Sicily. In 1481 it became part of France. The city gained prominence when Henry IV, the first Bourbon king (1589–1610), built a port and a naval arsenal here. Under Louis XIV the harbor was heavily fortified. In 1793 opponents of the French Revolution surrendered the city to the British. Later that year Napoleon Bonaparte distinguished himself in its recapture. In November, 1942, the greater part of the French fleet was scuttled here to prevent capture by the Germans.
Population: 167,788.