Situated in the middle of the 3 Iles d'Or, in front of the french mediterranean cost, the Porquerolles Islands is a real beauty and the most remarkable one in the area for the splendor of its flora, and the variety of its sites. Its climate, reknown to be the best in France, counts with 275 sunny days per year.

Emile Jahandiez, author of the book Les Iles d'Hyères ( The Hyères Islands) (published by Rebufa et Rouard in Toulon), thinks that the name Porquerolles comes from the name Port-Quairoles or Quieroles from the celtic noun quair, rock ... Port of Rocks. The Giens arbanés (the inhabitants of the peninsula) proposes another etymology. Probably, Porquerolles would come from Port-Cayrola. The name Cayrola has become Cairelet in present Provençal; which means Lavender.

  

The name Porcayrolis appears in several ancient documents. Then, Porquerolles means Lavender Port.

From the Roman Empire to 1531, the island has been subjected to the exactions of pirates. Francis I decided, then, to establish an important garrison in the island. Later, under Louis XIV, cardinal Richelieu had the Fort Petit and Fort of Langoustier built between 1634 and 1643. In 1792, the island was sold as a national property. The island has had five owner to the present.

Monsieur François Joseph Fournier, then in his marriage trip, discovered the announcement of the Porquerolles Islands auction, after his return from Mexico, where he made a considerable fortune discovering a gold and silver mine named Las Dos Estrellas. In february 22nd 1912, he offered it to his wife Sylvia as a marriage gift.

Soon after, he undertook the exploitation of 200 hectares with 180 hectares producing from 10 to 12 thousands of hectolitres of wine. The quality of his wine, the fineness and the degree of his brandy were reknown and famous. He dispatched to the continent early fruits and vegetables as kumquats, lemons, oranges and tangerines.

From 1921, he planted many thousands of young trees to reafforest the island. In the same period, his wife had some villas built as well as several hotels including Mas du Langoustier in 1931.

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