A glance at its history

Called the « Lavandour » in 1736, the city was only populated by a dozen of houses that belonged to fishermen. The brook, that was the propriety of an old woman, allowed the inhabitants to do their washing-up and to wash their linen. It is at that period that the word « Lavandou » was first coined. A few years later it became the city of Le Lavandou.

It is from the small wild beach « la Fossette » that the marshal Giraud sailed for Northern Africa. He was helped by the skipper Jules Crest.

It is at Cavalière, hamlet of the city of Le Lavandou, that the Greeks are said to have built the station of Alconis, which became known during the roman peace the soft Alcône, a luxury residence and the favourite place of the Latin people.

This little hamlet of le Lavandou is very appreciated today for its beach whereas it used to be famous for its chapel and its « Romérage ». 

The neighbourhood and the beach took their name from the old chapel, which was dedicated to St Clair de Vienne, hermit and abbot Saint-Marcel-de-Vienne, dead in 660.

The colonel Pinault was a friend of Ange Podda. He spent his last years in the hotel "Beau Soleil". He died in 1960 and he is buried in Le Lavandou’s cemetery.

This 12th beach of the city is located at the East of the « Cap Nègre". It was only surrounded by vineyards and agricultural lands. During the night of the Provence landing on the 15th of august 1944, the African Commandos went climbing the Cap Nègre rocks at Pramousquier. A commemorative plate dedicated to them settled there.