TOULON, tU6'15NI. The capital of an arron dissement in the French Department of Var, a fortress of the first class, and the second naval station in France (Map: France, M 8). It is situated on a fine and well-protected bay of the 'Mediterranean, 42 miles east-southeast of Mar seilles, and is partly surrounded by hills, crowned by detached forts. The old town in the southern part of the city is of uninviting appearance. Surrounding it on the north are the modern quarters embellished with wide avenues and fine buildings. In the old town is situated the only ancient building of any particular architectural value—the Sainte Marie-Majeure Church. It is Romanesque and dates from the eleventh century. It contains a handsome reredos. Besides the numerous na val and military open spaees and grounds (in cluding the Place d'Armes) in Toulon, there are, in the northern part, two spacious and promi nent squares—the Place de la Liberte (the finest in the new town) and the Jardin de la Ville, an attractive promenade. The most important avenue of the city—the Boulevard Strasbourg— connects the two squares, and on it are the Musee Bibliotheque (a handsome modern Re naissance edifice) and the immense Marine Hos pital. The Place d'Armes, to the southeast and near the port, is the main square in the city.
The harbor has five principal basins. It con nects with surrounding bays, which stretch away under hills bristling with forts, and ex tends past Fort de l'Aiguillette out into the great harbor or roadstead which opens into the sea. The port has an easy access and is well sheltered. The marine arsenal, an im mense and eomplete establishment with its buildings, basins, and canals, adjoins the city on the west. It dates from the time of Henry
IV., and on an enlarged scale was planned by Vauban. It embraces 650 acres. Over 12,000 men are employed.
Toulon has a lyceum, the Ecole Rouviere, marine schools, a marine library, a marine bo tanic garden, and a marine observatory. The leading theatre is a splendid modern edifice con taining 1800 seats. Shipbuilding, iron and cop per founding, laee-making, fishing, and viticul ture are the main industries. The vicinity pro duces olives and figs. The principal exports are wines, oils, and fruits. In 1899 there entered and cleared 755 vessels of 323,415 tons. The pop ulation, in 1901, was 101,602.
Toulon is the ancient Telo Martins, noted for its dye-works. It was destroyed by the Saracens in 889, and like calamitiesbefell it in the twelfth century. It surrendered to the forces of Charles V. in 1524, and also in 1536. Henry IV. and Louis XIV. fortified it. It repelled the allied fleets of England and Holland in 1707. In 1793 it was turned over by the Royalists to the English and their allies. It was thereupon besieged by the forces of the Convention, Napoleon Bona parte gaining there great distinction as com mander of the artillery. The town was taken in December and its inhabitants were ruthlessly punished. Consult: Teissier, Notice sur les archives coniniunales de la vile de Toulon (Paris, 1863) ; Lambert, Histoire de Toulon (Toulon, 1885-90) ; Rozet, Essai stir la clintato logic de Toulon (Paris, 1890).