Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The island of Port-Cros, located in the archipelago of the islands of Hyères in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, is a Mediterranean land of 7 km2, 4.2 km long and 2.4 km wide. Growing at 199 m at Fortin de la Vigie, it is distinguished by its lush vegetation, fed by natural sources, and its steep relief. Its name, inherited from the Greeks who called it Messé ("Middle Island"), evokes its central position in the archipelago of Stoechades. Roman traces, such as tombs and gold coins, attest to an ancient occupation, while a monastery linked to that of Lerins was established there in the fifth century before being destroyed by the barbaric pirates between the 10th and 16th centuries.

In the 16th century, François I erected the islands of Port-Cros, Bagaud and Le Levant as a marquisat to fight piracy, entrusting their defense to Bertrand d'Ornezan in 1532. The promised fortifications, however, were slow to come into being, and Richelieu had the tower of Eminence built in the 17th century and the forts of the Estissac and Port-Man built. Despite these efforts, the island, often neglected by garrisons, was looted and invaded, notably by the English in 1700 and 1742. In the 18th century, it passed into the hands of Louis de Colvet, Mirabeau's father-in-law, and was sold in 1783 to Jean Joseph Barthélémy Simon de Savornin.

The 19th century marked a turning point with Napoleon I, who restored the defences in 1811 and installed a garrison of 1,000 to 2,000 men. After the fall of the Empire, the island changed several times from owners, who tried unsuccessfully on industrial crops or farms (such as a soda factory). In 1890, the Marquis de Beauregard became its owner and attracted writers, including Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé, who immortalized the island in his novel Jean d'Agrève (1897). The Henry family, notably Marceline Henry, then played a key role in its preservation in the 20th century, transforming an inn into Provencal Hostellerie and welcoming literary figures such as André Gide and Paul Valéry.

The Second World War left traces in Port-Cros: in August 1944, an American-Canadian commando fought a German garrison there for two days during the landing of Provence. In 1963, thanks to the action of André Malraux and the donations of the heirs of Marceline Henry and Paule Desmarais, the island became the first European maritime national park. Today, this park protects a unique fauna and flora, such as the European phyllodactyl (an endemic gecko), Aleppo pine, or rare birds such as the ash puffin. Historic forts and wild landscapes make it a major natural and cultural site.

The island's administration is under the control of the city of Hyères, with a special dedicated assistant, William Seemuller, since 2022. The National Park, a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Ecology, ensures the conservation of its land and marine heritage, while allowing activities such as hiking. Current challenges include the management of invasive species, such as black rats whose proliferation has been promoted by the eradication of harets cats, or the preservation of Mediterranean ecosystems in the face of tourism.

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