In the island of Porquerolles, also known as the Île de Porquerolles, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

 "Is it better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are…than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise."

— Henry David Thoreau
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(on a secluded island just off the coast of Hyères on the French Riviera) Porquerolles, also known as the Île de Porquerolles, is an island in the Îles d'Hyères, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France) The largest and most westerly of the Îles d'Hyères, Porquerolles is about 7 km (4.3 miles) long by 3 km (1.9 miles) wide, with five ranges of hills. The south coast is lined with cliffs, and on the north coast are the island's port and the beaches of Notre Dame, La Courtade, and Plage d'Argent.

+ The island's village was established in 1820, with its lighthouse constructed in 1837, and its church in 1850. The entire island was purchased in 1912 by François Joseph Fournier; he planted 200 hectares (500 acres) of vineyards, which produced a wine that was among the first to be classified as vin des Côtes de Provence. From the village, stroll up to the 14th-century Fort Sainte Agathe, which boasts 360-degree views over Hyères. Just around the corner is Villa Carmignac, an art gallery filled with contemporary works from international artists. The north coast is also dotted with pretty beaches -- Plage Notre-Dame is one of the most beautiful. The south side of the island is a little harder to reach, yet worth a visit to see the towering cliffs and hidden coves. You can explore it by boat, or following the hiking and cycling trails that crisscross the island.

+ In 1971, the state bought 80 percent of this island to preserve it from development. Much of it is now part of a national park (the Port-Cros Parc National) and nature conservation area (Conservatoire botanique national méditerranéen de Porquerolles).

+ Since 2010, the island has hosted a jazz festival ("Jazz à Porquerolles") each summer. Fifteen minutes from the ferry dock is Fondation Carmignac, a large art complex set among the native “pin parasol” trees (which hover high above the land like umbrellas). This rugged island off the coast of Hyéres has market shops, restaurants, and cafés, plus boutiques selling souvenirs. Yet, the main attraction of this paradise is to hike, bike, or mingle with artwork. Ferries leave from the Giens Peninsula, located on the south side of the French Riviera, so book ahead during the summertime high season and join the masses for the 15-minute ride across it. Visitors can spend the better part of an entire day moving back and forth between the outdoor permanent collection of large-scale works and the air-conditioned, 22,000-square-foot galleries that host an annual temporary exhibition from April through November. After a brief repose with a rosé from Domaine La Cortade, a certified organic vineyard, you might want to bike another 15 minutes further, to the crystal-clear cove of Plage Notre Dame (depicted here) for a dip in the deep-blue sea.