Go around the island.

Walk around the island and be amazed by its white rocks, steep cliffs and tiny islets filled of marine birds in the midst of crystal blue waters: a wild setting which takes the walker far from the hustle and city traffic.

The island, first an arid and almost a deserted place, became a delightful Mediterranean garden. Paul Ricard planted stone pines, bay trees, palm trees and many other Mediterranean seeds which now provide a large variety vegetation for this Mediterranean jewel. 

The Island is a perfect refuge for marine birds such as different kind of gulls.

The "Notre-Dame-des-Pecheurs" statue, located on the high spot of the island, was build by Servian, a sculptor from Marseille on demand of Paul Ricard. This last wanted to set up his own “Bonne Mère” on his island. Notre-Dames-des-Pecheurs is facing towards Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. This chapel was inaugurated by the bishop of Toulon and Frejus.

On the 15^th of August, take part to the procession of the Virgin Mary: pilgrims with candle can surrender on the island with the ferry for free at 8.45 p.m. and participate to the procession and finally, come back to the harbor.

The underwater divers of the Diving Center have imagined enthroning Notre-Dame-des-Pecheurs at the bottom of the sea, off the island coast: this Virgin can only be seen by them… and the fishes! It is undoubtedly the most impressive pilgrimage place of worlwide.

Helipad

The walker exploring the island will be astonished to happen upon a helipad. What you need to know is that in the 60s, Ile de Bendor was a mecca for the "Jet Set", the legendary "in" place where celebrities of the time came to mingle. It was the place to be: cocktail parties, soirées, shows.

It still hosts conferences and a variety of events and its guests benefit from excellent facilities and can enjoy a setting which is no less spectacular. But the island has found its peace again.

The wild beauty of this tiny corner of the earth is indeed restful. The mild climate, its sunsets over the sea provide the ideal setting for nature lovers, or simply for lovers.

CIP of Bendor

The International Diving Center (CIP) of Bendor, internationally famous, offers a professional welcome to diving lovers and introduces you the wonderful sea depths surrounding the archipelago. Famous divers as well as “celebrities” of the marine world such as Commander Cousteau or Alain Bombard have also experienced the desire to explore this site which is impressing for its protected beauty.

We offer: instruction for children ages 8 years and up, group classes for all levels, individual lessons, deep exploration dives according to demand, mid-level exploration dives according to demand or initiator exams.

The International Diving Centre is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Sunday. 
For more information, click here.

The Belfry

Visitors will discover a curious bell tower, as soon as they leave the landing stage. This was the first building on the island. It used to be a water tower and then the sea museum.

Nowadays, le Beffroi hosts an exhibition of a large number of objects used by the famous Ricard brand, from very old items to the most contemporary designer creations, all produced for this internationally-famous pastis brand.

Statues

As soon as he bought the island, Paul Ricard, a great art lover particularly interested into sculpture, asked to Louis Botinelly «the man who made beat the heart of stone” to erect a monument in homage to the famous sculptor of Marseille, Pierre Puget, with the motto “it hont pains no gains”.

This emblematic work, which is today at the entrance of Le Delos hotel, symbolises Paul Ricard’s desire to turn his island into a “garden of the arts”.

Paul Ricard defined wholly particular architectural style on this small island. Architecture students even made the subject of their thesis.

Hotel Delos, a typically Italian (protofino) building, and Le Palais of Le Delos, modelled on Venice design, show, as many other buildings on the island, the different architectural styles discovered by Paul Ricard during all his travels.

He wanted to transplant them onto the island respecting their scale. These edifices were build with simple stones, as was an old wall that Paul Ricard discovered when he bought the island.

Petites Villas

Paul Ricard wanted to provide accommodation for his friends, artists and all those who wanted a truly special experience. Then, he built around the harbour, many little Provencal-cottages, brightly-coloured, simple, but nevertheless very comfortable.

Artwork
When strolling along the coast or the water’s edge, vistors will discover the footprint let by different personalities and artists who stayed on Bendor: sulptors of course, wrought iron workers, painters, potters…

Statue of Sainte-Marthe
The statue of Sainte-Marthe is a copy of the eponymous district in Marselle, where in 1932, was made for the first time, the famous Paul Ricard’s Pastis.

Statue by Elie Robert, in front of the Petites Villas

The trusty builder of the Ardeche, immortalised in the work of Mr Barra, had the distinguished honour for having its own statue during his lifetime.

Beaux-arts statues and busts

Students in the Beaux-Arts school, who stayed on the island, created a large number of  works. Visitors will discover them by exploring the island. On the way to the Paul Ricard museum, there are many busts, statues and bas-reliefs which illustrate this productive past.

Paul Charles Ricard Museum – Ricard advertising objects

Bendor is a famous place for tourism, an international crossroads for the arts and for water sports and also an island for conferences. Paul RICARD combined his professional life developing his company of spirits already in full expansion with all his personal passions that became vectors of communication.

The islands of Embiez and Bendor and the Paul Ricard circuit as well as its museum highlight the different actions of this outstanding man.

Artists’ boutique workshops

Artisans have small workshops to display and sell their production during the summer season, a reward for their creativity!