L'Île du Levant

A young traveler recounts the thrill of hearing that his family has just bought the remote Ile du Levant, the last of the Hyères archipelago. He imagines a life of adventure—sailing, exploring, living like a modern Robinson—while counting down the days until the long‑awaited vacation. The journey begins on a swift steam yacht, cutting through a glass‑like Mediterranean that feels worlds away from the gray, muddy streets of Paris.

When the vessel finally drops anchor in the tiny bay of L’Avis, the narrator is greeted by the Guillon family and led up a winding hillside to a modest castle overlooking the sea. From the terrace he surveys a landscape dotted with agaves, palms and orange trees, while the distant mainland glows under a spectacular sunset. The island’s narrow stretch of land, its fragrant gardens and the promise of an unhurried winter create an immediate sense of freedom and wonder, setting the stage for the summer that lies ahead.