Toulon

Port and administrative centre of Var département, southeast France, on the Mediterranean Sea, 48 km/30 mi southeast of Marseille; population (1999) 160,700, conurbation 519,600. It is the chief Mediterranean naval station of France. Industries include oil refining, marine engineering, armaments, chemicals, furniture, and clothing. There is a university. Toulon was the Roman Telo Martius, became the seat of a bishopric in the 6th century and was made a port by Henry IV. During World War II the French fleet was scuttled here (1942) to avoid it passing into German control.