Toulon-sur-Mer
Toulon or Toulon-sur-mer (Tolon in Provençal) is a city in southern France, and préfecture (capital) of the Var département in the former province of Provence. Population 175,000. Population of the metropolitan area (in French: aire urbaine) at the 1999 census was 564,823.
The city has a port on the Mediterranean Sea.
The current mayor of Toulon is Hubert Falco.
Military role
The military harbor was fortified by Vauban.
After the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch) the German Army occupied southern France, leading to the scuttling of the French Fleet at Toulon 27 November 1942.
Today, Toulon is the country's major naval centre on its Mediterreanean coast. The French Mediterranean Fleet is based in Toulon.
Culture
Cuverville (http://www.cuverville.org/) is Toulon's satirical paper, from the nickname of a statue standing on Toulon harbor looking at the sea (cul vers ville = "ass to the city").
Yaquoi (http://yaquoi.com/) is Toulon's cultural webzine.
Miscellaneous
Toulon was the birthplace of:
- Jean Joseph Marie Amiot, Jesuit
- Capucine, actress
- Félix Mayol, singer and entertainer
- Raimu, actor
Other places named Toulon include:
- Toulon sur Arroux, Saône-et-Loire, France
- Toulon, Illinois
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