At the Calanques in the South of France, wild beauty trumps pricey beach clubs.
When one call back of theCote d’Azur , they might conspire images of luxuriousness racing yacht bobbing along the coast of Saint Tropez , doer strut down theCroisette of Cannes , or the fellow monde risking it all at thegrand casinos of Monaco . But if you veer eastward , towards the lowly embrasure town of Marseille , you ’ll discover theSouth of France’sbest hold on secret : tough , limestone rocks opening up to pond of aqua waters in mini , fjord - corresponding formation known as calanques . The cliffs ofCalanques National Park , situated in the centre of Marseille and the wizardly sportfishing town of Cassis , give style to panoramic , table salt - sprayed rise interrupted by sequestrate , refreshful dips . This patch of craggy coastline is whatEuropean summeris meant to be , where wild beauty trumps costly beach clubs . But getting to know the landscape requires a bit of preparation forwards .
What to know before you go
The Calanques National Park is open 24 hours a 24-hour interval , seven days a week , and entrance is destitute . That being said , during the summer months of June to September , you ’ll have to keep a daily lookout on whether or not the parkland is close due to fire danger . The park ’s peri - urban location and arid , Mediterranean clime make an unwelcome combo for forest fires . Every sidereal day between 5 and 6 necropsy , officials tax the weather stipulation for the following sidereal day and make a conclusion , which you could access through theMy Calanques app .
sure sphere of the Calanques experience heavy foot dealings in the summer , and for this reason , you might want to make a reservation beforehand . The popular sites of Calanques de Sugiton and Pierres Tombées in finicky have been victims of pregnant erosion , and in society to prevent this , the green asks that youmake a free reservationevery day from June 29 to September 1 ; September 7 and 8 ; and September 14 and 15 , 2024 . you’re able to book as early as three days forward of your visit and up to 6 pm the night before .
The park is beautifully bare - boned , intend you wo n’t find much in term of crapper , nutrient stand , or waste bins on the trails or beach , so pack a fair ploughshare of water and collation , check that to chuck out your trash once you ’re back in township . Though not the most sexy form of footgear , body of water shoes are a great approximation , as you ’ll encounter that many of the beaches contain rocky sands . How much clock time you ’d like to spend at the park is entirely up to you ; you’re able to get a pretty worthwhile snap in a few hours , or spend three days hike it in its entirety .
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How to get to Calanques National Park
There are three way to get to Calanques National Park : from Marseille , Cassis , or La Ciotat .
you may get to the calanques of Callelongue , Sormiou , Morgiou , and Sugiton by railway car , but the park recommends leaving your vehicle behind , as there are no official parking circumstances and place is limited . Consider opting for public transport instead .
From Marseille , take theRTM busto any number of entrances , like Sugiton ( B1 ) or Morgiou ( 22 ) . Cassis is an excellent entry point for confabulate the west of the Calanques range and the Cap Canaille area . Take the bus channel M01 , which will get you to about a 30 - hour manner of walking from the park , near the Port - Miou calanque . La Ciotat , a seaside village famed for being the birthplace of pétanque , is another option if you ’re nifty on explore the eastern section of the commons ; just snap up aCiotabus . Line 30 will take you to theMugelandFiguerollescalanques .
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If you ’d like to search the landscape painting by ocean , head to the Old Port and book a tour withIcard Maritime , a half - day sashay that will take you from Marseille to the bay of Cassis , passing through the calanques of Sormiou , Morgiou , Sugiton , En Vau , Port - Pin , and Port - Miou .
The best calanques to see
The Calanques National Park stretches over 200 straight land mile , with 26 calanques ( 25 in Marseille , one in Cassis ) . Here ’s your cheat sheet for the very best of them .
Calanque de Port-Pin
key out after the Aleppo pines that run along its drop , Port - Pin is the most accessible calanque from the Cassis peninsula , reachable in just about a half hour . If you ’re pressed on metre , you could enjoy a day ’s swimming in the watch crystal clear waters of this intake . But with ease comes popularity , so ensure you get in early to snag a towel spot .
Calanque de Sugiton
Another crew favorite , Sugiton boasts two small pebble beach , bounded by in high spirits cliffs . commence your trek from the pine forests of Luminy estate , then make your means up to the Tour d’Orient , a picket dot perched at an altitude of about 800 foot . The land site of a former military watchtower , Tour d’Orient offers some of the best persuasion of the interior park in its entirety .
Calanque de Sormiou
Sormiou is the largest calanque in Marseille . Get there from the Baumettes or La Cayolle machine park and plan to walk for about an hour until you reach the orotund , turquoise cove , surrounded by panoramic views of mountains and cabanons , little houses that appeared at the showtime of the twentieth century to stack away fishing boats .
Calanque de Morgiou
The Calanque de Morgiou is steeped in chronicle . King Louis XIII visited in 1622 to attend a pêche à la madrague , an old tradition of net sportfishing for tuna fish , and you’re able to still walk down the steps that were cut into Harlan Fiske Stone for his sojourn . The water is deeper here , idealistic for scuba diving . Do n’t leave without exploring Cosquer Cave , an submersed grot containing cave drawings dating back over 28,000 years .
Calanque d’En-Vau
Perhaps the most photogenic calanque , nut - Vau boasts loom ashen cliffs that bookend a turquoise blue cove . Get there on a scenic hike by way of Port - Pin , and make the most of this instinctive heaven by rock and roll climb , kayaking , or , if you ’re lucky , saying hello to the few unwarranted boar that occasionally pass by .
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