Cassini’s famous map has just been put online: this is what Toulon looked like 250 years ago

It is still fascinating to note that a forest once flourished on the site of his residence. Or that the hand of man could change the course of a river. It’s the charm of old plans to take you back in time.

As such, the Cassini map, named after its designers, father and son, in the 18th^e century, is a jewel. What’s more, it is easily accessible: a new digitized version of this first topographical and geometric map established on the scale of the Kingdom of France has just been put online, available for free on the internet.

What do we see there, in particular? Our territory in its smallest details. Toulon was then a fortified city of around 15,000 inhabitants, limited to the lower town, the upper town and part of the current military port. With its two docks, the old and the new.

“We can clearly distinguish the fortifications of Henri IV to the east and, to the west, those of Vauban”notes local historian André Bérutti. The surrounding area, starting with Mourillon – where there were salt marshes! – are often nothing more than campaigns punctuated by forts, batteries and other redoubts.

Mount Faron almost naked

In 1780, the date of the presentation of this exceptional map engraved and watercolored by hand, the harbor also presents some differences with the one we know today. No large pier (completed in 1881), but a “passage of the gully”. Fort Saint-Louis was a small island and the sea advanced at the foot of Mayol.

As for Mount Faron, the vegetation there seemed to be significantly less abundant than in the 21st century.^e century. Several reasons for this, according to André Bérutti: “First, the population went there to stock up on firewood. Herds of goats also wreaked havoc there. Finally, a shrub invaded by cochineal was prized because it was used to make vermilion”.

Other incongruities: certain place names which have since changed. Let us cite the town of La Seine, its district of Breguyon, the Fort de la Malgue or this mysterious Regnand, who seems to designate the Eygoutier river. The latter had already, at this time, left its original bed, diverted as it was by Vauban in 1679. Same story for the Las, except that it remains visible as a stream.

So many particularities which can be discovered by zooming in on the document available on the Gallica site of the National Library of France (BNF) or the Geoportal of the National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information (IGN). Users can navigate it interactively, while overlaying it with modern maps or even current aerial shots.

Note that a vestige of these glorious times of cartography is still found on the heights of Revest, not far from Grand Cap, at an altitude of 782 meters. This is Cassini’s pyramid, the name of these benchmarks set by the geodesist for the design of his plans, by “triangulation”. At the foot of this small limestone tumulus, the panorama of Toulon no longer has much to do with that of 1780. Except its timeless beauty.

>Find out more

https://gallica.bnf.fr/

https://www.ign.fr/institut

https://remonterletemps.ign.fr/