Le Lavandou (pronounced [lə lavɑ̃du]; Occitan: Lo Lavandor) is a seaside commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France.

Le Lavandou derives its name either from the flower lavender (lavanda in Provençal) that is prevalent in the area,[3] or more prosaically from the local form of the Occitan name for lavoir, lavandor (for lavador, a public place for washing clothes).

The song had its first performance in a local bar, where the melody was played on piano by Manning Sherwin with the help of the resident saxophonist.

[5] In the spring of 2002, an attempt was made to find the bar where this classic song was first performed with the view to having a blue plaque set up.

[6] After the fall of nobility the title of Duke of Lavandou was passed on the Governor of Provence and Languedoc, and from there by primogeniture to the Duchess of Gandia.