Les Bormettes can be considered the historic heart of La Londe-les-Maures. Human settlement has been documented since antiquity and possibly as early as the Iron Age. The Château des Bormettes is regarded as the area's first known wine estate.
History and Heritage
The Château des Bormettes was built between 1588 and 1642 by the Carthusians of La Verne as an agricultural bastide. The château is visible from public roads; however, it can only be visited as part of scheduled tours or by groups upon prior request to the Domaine du Château des Bormettes.
The industrial history includes the workers' housing estate in the style of a coron and the Schneider armaments factory. The estate was built between 1913 and 1920 for the employees of the armaments factory, is considered a rare example of a coron in the Mediterranean region, and is still inhabited. The Schneider armaments factory in Les Bormettes was established in 1912 to manufacture torpedoes; the site is private and not open to the public.
The guided tour “Malaquais et les Javanais aux Bormettes” conveys the everyday life of the miners and Schneider factory employees through literary readings and archival images. The Baludik experience trail “Escapade temporelle aux Bormettes” leads through the historic district and presents its heritage as well as important figures from local history.
Trails and Vineyards
The former industrial railway line in Les Bormettes is now used by the Promenade des Annamites walking trail. The trail is 5.50 kilometres long and marked in blue. The Promenade des Annamites is open daily year-round and free of charge.
The current vineyard walk at the Château des Bormettes follows signposted circular routes ranging from 2 to 5 kilometres through vineyards overlooking the sea.
Memorial Sites and Visible Traces
The Stèle des Bormettes is a memorial station on the municipal Chemin de la Mémoire. It commemorates four children from the district who died for France during the Second World War. The memorial is free to visit and open daily throughout 2026.
The site of the Hôpital des Bormettes is visible from the Promenade des Annamites on the side of the Les Bormettes district.
Les Bormettes Harbour
Port Maravenne, also known as Bassin des Bormettes, is a public harbour with berths exclusively for motorised pleasure boats. The harbour has two slipways for boats: one above and one below the harbour.
Those considering Les Bormettes as a holiday destination can rent a holiday apartment for their stay.
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