Hyères (Provençal Occitan: Ieras in classical norm or Iero in Mistralian norm) is a town and commune in the southeast of France, in the Var département, located 15 km (10 mi) east of Toulon. At the 1999 census it had a population of 51,417 inhabitants.
History
The city of Olbia was founded by the Phocaeans during the 4th century BCE, and is mentioned by the geographer Strabo. Greek and Roman antiquities have been found in the area. The first reference to the town dates from 963. Originally a possession of the viscount of Marseilles, it later went to Charles of Anjou. St Louis landed at Hyères in 1254 when returning from the Crusades.
Geography
Its position facing the Mediterranean to the south makes it a popular location for tourism in the winter, and facilitates the raising of palm trees; about 100,000 trees are exported from the area each year.
The three islands of the Îles d'Hyères (namely Porquerolles, Port-Cros and the Île du Levant) are located just offshore.
The commune has a land area of 132.38 km² (51.112 sq mi).
Miscellaneous
Hyères was the birthplace Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663-1742), churchman and preacher.
American novelist Edith Wharton wintered in Hyères annually from 1919 until her death in 1937.
Hyères is twinned with Rottweil, Germany.
Hyères is home to the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival, a huge fashion and art photography event which has run every year at the end of April since 1985.
This festival was among the first to recognize the talents of Viktor & Rolf.
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