In Port-Cros, get to know Jacques Théry Le Cycle Porquerollais

Originally from the southwest, Jacques Théry arrived in Porquerolles with his wife Annie in 1974.

"We were working in photography, we were young, we wanted to fly on our own, to go on an adventure and we had the opportunity to take over the small Kodak photo booth at the entrance of the village. For 4 years, they live in the adjoining room of 8 m². "To go to bed at night, we had to push the boxes, but we were happy! On their honeymoon in the Balearic Islands the year before, they had seen bike rentals. "We said to ourselves why not!

They bought some bikes and put them in front of the kiosk. In 1975, they bought their current premises, 1 rue de la Ferme, the one that goes up from the port to the village, and managed to acquire a small apartment of 27 m2 in a residence. The year 1978 saw the birth of their son and the abandonment of the photo activity.

We concentrated on cycling and then I passed my state sailing certificate and I was lucky enough to be allowed to open a small sailing school in La Courtade.

A happy parenthesis of eight years for this winsdurf enthusiast. But the cycling activity, with the increase in demand, demanded it.

Today, Le Cycle Porquerollais offers 270 bikes for rent, employs three people year round and three more in season.

We've been here for 44 years and I don't regret it!

Jacques wanted the Esprit Parc National brand "because I've always had excellent relations with the National Park..." even at a time when defending its actions in favor of the environment earned him many enmities. But he held on and confirms today:

The brand is an obvious continuity in my career, it allows me to create a network, it is a personal enrichment that I try to transmit to my employees and it is especially, for me, beyond the speeches, a concrete implementation of what is ecology.