Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer

french commune
nomcommune=Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer
Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer: view of the harbor
région=Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
département=Var
arrondissement=Toulon
canton=Saint Mandrier-sur-Mer
insee=830153
cp=83430
maire=Gilles Vincent (UMP)
mandat=1995-
intercomm=Toulon Provence Méditerranée
longitude=05.9333
latitude=43.0833
alt mini=0 m
alt maxi=124 m
hectares=512
km²=5.12
sans=6,674
date-sans=2006
dens=1,024
nomhab=Mandréen, Mandréenne
siteweb= [http://www.ville-saintmandrier.fr/ Ville de Saint Mandrier]

Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is a town and commune in the Var "département" of southeastern France. Across the harbour from the port of Toulon, Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is home to a fishing port of its own, tucked in to a small inlet.

History

Situated on the Isle de Sépet until a causeway was constructed between 1630 and 1657, what is now the town shows evidence of long habitation. A Phoenician tower once stood on the island, while the area was cleared for farming in the 6th century. The Phoenician tower was converted to a Christian chapel in 566 and the church of Saint-Honorat was built in 1020.

The causeway to the mainland (the isthme des Sablettes) not only led to the creation of an independent town, but the use of the area as a battery station for the heavily fortified port of Toulon. Fishing and naval work dominated the town, with the construction of the "Infirmerie Royale Saint-Louis" naval hospital, becoming the 1818 the "Hôpital Maritime Saint-Mandrier" in 1818. In the 19th century, Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer also was home to sailmaking. Naval aviation and the Fleet Mechanics and Pilots School (école des Mécaniciens et Chauffeurs de la flotte - GEM) were located in the town in the 1930s.

Economics

Once home to a French Naval Air station, its location near the homeport of the French Navy at Toulon has meant that the military has played a huge economic role in the life of the town. Increasingly, Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is focused on the tourist industry.

References

*fr [http://www.ville-saintmandrier.fr/ ville-saintmandrier.fr] : official website.
*en [http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/var/stmandri/stmandri.htm Provenceweb.fr: Saint Mandrier sur Mer] .
* Much of this article was translated from the French language Wikipedia entry .

ee also

Communes of the Var department