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SPORTS
Tour of the island
Next is the tour of the island and the walker will gaze in wonder at the white rocks, the steep cliff faces and the tiny islets with their colonies of marine birds in the midst of crystalline blue waters: a wild setting which takes the walker far from the hustle and bustle of the town.
The island, once an arid semi-desert has become a delightful Mediterranean garden. Paul Ricard planted stone pines, bay trees, palm trees and many other Mediterranean plants which now provide a lush setting for this jewel of the Mediterranean. The island is the perfect refuge for a large number of marine birds including different kinds of gull.
At the summit of the island there is the statue of "Notre-Dame-des-Pêcheurs". Paul Ricard asked the sculptor Servian from Marseille to install the "Good Mother" on his island. Notre-Dame-des-Pêcheurs looks in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. The unveiling ceremony was held in the presence of the Bishop of Toulon and Fréjus.
On 15 August, take part in the procession of the Virgin Mary: pilgrims with candles cross for free at 8.45pm towards the island, then there is a procession to the Virgin and back.
The underwater divers at the Diving Centre have installed a replica of Notre-Dame-des-Pêcheurs at the bottom of the sea, off the coast of the island: this Virgin can only be seen by them... and the fish... It is, without a doubt, the most unusual shrine in the world!
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 internationally-reputed International Diving Centre (CIP) of Bendor, offers a professional welcome to diving fanatics and will introduce you to the magnificent waters surrounding the archipelago.
Famous divers as well as “celebrities” of the marine world such as Commander Cousteau and Alain Bombard, have also experienced the desire to explore this site which is remarkable for its unspoilt beauty.
CULTURE AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES
The Belfry
Visitors to the landing stage at Bendor discover a very curious belltower. This was the first building on the island and later housed the Marine Museum. Today, the belfry 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-renowned brand.
Statues
Paul Ricard, a great art lover particularly interested in sculpture, had only just purchased the island when he asked Louis Botinelly, "the man who could make the heart of stone beat" to erect a monument in homage to the famous Marseille sculptor Pierre Puget with the motto "Nul bien sans peine" (no gain without pain).
This iconic work, today at the entrance to Hotel Delos, symbolises Paul Ricard’s desire to turn his island into a “garden for the arts”.
Paul Ricard has indeed put his signature to a very distinctive style of architecture on this tiny plot of land. Architecture students have even written theses about it.
Hotel Delos – Le Palais of Hotel Delos
Hotel Delos, a resolutely Italian (Portofino) building and Le Palais of Hotel Delos created in the image of the best of Venitian architecture, bear witness, as do many other buildings on the island, to the different architectural styles discovered by Paul Ricard in the course of his travels.
What he wanted was to transplant them to the island while respecting their scale. These buildings were constructed simply from stone, as was an old wall discovered when the island was purchased.
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Petites Villas
To provide accommodation for his friends, artists and all those who wanted a truly special experience, Paul Ricard had some pretty little Provençal-style house built around the harbour. They are brightly-coloured, very simple but nevertheless very comfortable.
Works of art
When strolling along the coast or the water’s edge, the visitor will discover the traces left by the different celebrities and artists who have stayed at Bendor: sculptors naturally, wrought iron workers, and also painters, potters...
Statue of Sainte-Marthe
The statue of Sainte-Marthe is a reminder of the eponymous district in Marseille where, in 1932, Paul Ricard’s famous pastis came into being.
Statue by Elie Robert, in front of the Petites Villas
The trusty stonemason of the Ardèche, immortalised in the work of M. Barra, had the distinguished honour of having a statue made of him during his lifetime.
Fine art statues and busts
Those Art College students who have stayed on the island have created a good number of works which the vistor will come across when exploring the island. On the way to the Paul Ricard museum, there is a multitude of busts, statues and bas-reliefs which illustrate this productive past.
Cinema (today Vincent Scotto theatre)
In the 60s, Paul Ricard created studios and a cinema. A good number of films and advertisements were shot there with celebrities of the time as actors. Today, the cinema theatre is used as a plenary room for the organisation of events, particularly seminars. For further information: reservations@hoteldelos.com or call: +33 (0)4 94 05 54 88 or go to the Seminars and Events page on the website.
Paul Charles Ricard Museum – Ricard advertising objects
BENDOR is a mecca of 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 spirits company already in full expansion with all his personal passions which were to allow him to express himself. The islands of Les Embiez and Bendor and the Paul Ricard circuit and his museum are testament to the different activities of this extraordinary man.
Artists’ boutique workshops
Artisans occupy tiny workshops and display and sell their wares during the summer season, a reward for their creativity!
Wine Museum – Universal Exhibition of Wines and Spirits
A large number of bottles, labels, restaurant menus from all over the world are displayed in this museum with its majestic facade flanked by 2 statues by Botinelly. The entrance is decorated with ceramics designed and produced by the ceramics workshop of the Ricard company, the murals were created by students of the Fine Arts School of Marseille in the 60s.
Total refurbishment of parts of this museum is currently underway with a view to reopening this astonishing edifice in the near future.
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