Philatelic Document—PassionHyères-les Palmier

Hyères-les-Palmiers Nestled on the slopes of the small Maurettes mountain range, between the hills and the sea, the town of Hyères—an old medieval town with steep, narrow streets—is the second-largest in the Var department by area and the third-largest by population. While its salt marshes brought it wealth in the past, the town opened up to tourism in the 19th century, attracting the upper crust seeking to escape the harshness of winter. A source of inspiration for Picasso, Dufy, Dalí, and Man Ray, its Villa Noailles—built in the 1920s in a modern style—attracted the cream of Parisian society, from Gide to Cocteau. Hyères began to attract seaside tourists after 1945, capitalizing on its 21 km of beaches and the unspoiled beauty of its islands—Porquerolles, Port-Cros, and Île du Levant—which have since become a national park, a marine sanctuary, and an unparalleled diving spot. A leading horticultural center—accounting for 70% of France’s cut-flower production—and home to an AOC Côtes de Provence vineyard, Hyères specializes above all in palm tree cultivation. This tree gives the town its distinctive character, its reputation, and its nickname, Hyères-les-Palmiers. Every even-numbered year, young philatelists gather in a different French city for their national championship, joined by adult specialists in the most popular categories of philatelic competition among the general public. This October 2026, the gathering will take place at the Hyères-les-Palmiers Casino Forum. In addition to an exhibition of the finest collections, a variety of fun activities centered on the passion for collecting will be organized at these iconic venues that embody the city’s seaside heritage. Jean-Yves Le Naour

Timbre-poste (taille-douce): conception et gravure Nicolas Bical, d’ap. photo « L’or méconnu de la Côte d’Azur - Le Figaro Magazine, 2016 » © Franck Prignet / Figarophoto. Vignette: conception Frédéric Hamet Document philatélique : Conception et mise en page Nicolas Bical d’ap. photo « la chapelle Saint-Blaise » © Gouhoury B/Andia.fr Cachet d’oblitération : Conception Nicolas Bical. Texte : Jean-Yves Le Naour. Philaposte / 21 26 558 / © La Poste 2026