Toulon

Toulon (UK: , US: ; French: [tulɔ̃] ; Provençal: Tolon (classical norm), Touloun (Mistralian norm), pronounced [tuˈlun]) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera at the eastern extremity of the Gulf of Lion, it formed part of the historical region of Provence. The city functions as the prefecture of the Var department. Toulon had a population of 179,116 people (2023), making it France's 12th-largest city, and third most populous French city on the Mediterranean, after Marseille and Nice. It is the centre of a metropolitan area with 591,135 inhabitants (2023), the fourteenth largest in France by population. Toulon is an important centre for naval construction, fishing, winemaking, and the manufacture of aeronautical equipment, armaments, maps, paper, tobacco, printing, shoes, and electronic equipment. The military port of Toulon is the major naval centre on France's Mediterranean coast, home of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and her battle group. The French Mediterranean Fleet is based in Toulon. The 1793 siege took place during the Federalist revolts.