Îles d'Hyères

The Îles d'Hyères, also known as Îles d'Or , are a group of four Mediterranean islands off Hyères in the Var department of Southeastern France. Their old name is the Stoechades Islands from Στοιχάδες Stoikhádes from στοιχάς stoikhás meaning “in a row one behind another”.

A unique species of lavender named Lavandula stoechas was discovered here by Pedanius Dioscorides.

Islands
With a combined area of 29 km2, the Îles d'Hyères consist of


 * Porquerolles – 1,254 ha, an extension of the Giens peninsula
 * Port-Cros – 650 ha, the most mountainous, part of Port-Cros National Park, noted for rare flora and as a bird refuge
 * Île du Bagaud – 45 ha, part of the same national park, and without permitted access
 * Île du Levant – 900 ha, mostly for military use, partly a long-established naturist community centered on the privately owned village of Héliopolis