The Calanques

The calanques (steep-walled inlets), that go from Marseille to Cassis, were recently made a Regional Natural Park. Idyllic, heavenly, captivating… these terms seem pale before the dream setting situated at a few steps from the centre of Marseille. This calcareous, dazzling white landscape, spiked with ruins-formed rocks, owes its charm to its deep indentations filled with intense blue water. It attracts nature fanatics with wild beauty, but it´s firstly a promise of the unexpected, each hiking path detour offers new perspectives, with the hope of running into an isolated and quiet creek.

The most fascinating approach remains the boat trip from Marseille or from Cassis, allowing you to enjoy this magnificent show from another point of view; an unforgettable trip.

Ces anciennes vallées fluviales abritent sur leurs hauteurs une faune unique, en particulier les oiseaux, comme le faucon pèlerin.  Des conditions d’exposition exceptionnelles et le record d’aridité français expliquent la présence d’une flore insolite dont certaines espèces sont inhabituellement fragiles.

These former river valleys present a unique fauna at their heights, with birds in particular, such as the pilgrim falcon. Exceptional exposition conditions and the French record of aridity explain the presence of a unique flora with some particularly fragile species.

These calanques are one of the most beautiful mountain chains of the French climbing site list, offering over 100 km of tracks.

NOT TO BE MISSED:

A lunch in the sun, in one of the open-air cafés of the fisherman hamlet Les Goudes, the huts of the small harbours of Sormiou and Morgiou; the calanque of Sugiton and its tiny creek; the spectacular calanque of En-Vau.