Marseille – Bouches-du-Rhône – Provence
The calanques of Marseille and Cassis
About 2 hrs by car, pair it with Cosquer Méditerranée
Between Marseille and Cassis, the calanques stretch for some twenty kilometres, with white limestone cliffs plunging into turquoise water. They form the heart of the Calanques National Park, created in 2012: the only national park in Europe that is at once on land, at sea and on the doorstep of a major city.
Waymarked trails, dizzying viewpoints and small coves for a swim: young and old will find walks for every level. There is no drinking water, toilet or restaurant along the trails: bring at least 1 to 2 litres of water per person and good walking shoes.
The most beautiful walks
From the Luminy campus, which you can reach by bus, allow about an hour's walk down to the Sugiton calanque. For a first family outing, the walk from Callelongue to Les Goudes is easy: 2.7 km in about 2 hours. More experienced walkers can reach Sormiou from Les Baumettes on a fairly difficult 5.7 km loop of about 3 hrs 15 min.
On the Cassis side, the walk to the En-Vau calanque via Port-Pin is one of the most spectacular: 7.5 km there and back, about 3 hrs 30 min, rated difficult. The Petit Prince trail, 1.8 km in one hour, is an easy option for young children.
In summer, the calanques are packed
With more than 2 million visitors a year, the calanques are very busy, and summer is by far the most crowded time: expect busy trails, packed coves and full car parks by late morning. Sugiton can then only be visited with a booking, on the last two weekends of June, every day in July and August and on the first two weekends of September. The roads to Sormiou, Morgiou and Callelongue are closed to cars in season.
From 1 June to 30 September, access to the hills also depends on the fire risk: on “red” days it is completely forbidden, even on foot. The map is published every day at 5 pm for the following day by the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture and in the “Mes Calanques” app. If you can, choose spring or autumn; in summer, set off early in the morning, on a weekday, and avoid the peak hours between 11 am and 3 pm.
A stop at Cosquer Méditerranée
The calanques hide a prehistoric treasure: beneath Cap Morgiou lies a decorated cave discovered by the diver Henri Cosquer, now out of reach. Its identical replica can be visited in the heart of Marseille, at the foot of the Mucem.
Aboard a small exploration module, you glide past walls covered with horses, bison, seals and penguins. An indoor visit, ideal to round off a day of walking or for a day when the hills are closed.
Access and rules
Access to the park's trails is free. For Sugiton in high season, book online via the park's website. In Cassis, the Gorguettes park-and-ride car park is free and linked to the town centre by a paid shuttle bus; in Marseille, buses serve Luminy and Les Baumettes.
In the park, fires, barbecues and smoking are strictly forbidden, as are camping and drones without permission. Stay on the waymarked trails, keep your dog on a lead and take all your rubbish home: offenders face a fine of up to €750.
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Open in Google MapsStay about 2 hours from the calanques
Extend your discovery of Provence and the Mediterranean by staying at our villa in Lunel-Viel, between Montpellier and Nîmes: an ideal base for a day trip to the calanques.
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Accommodation for up to 12 guests
from 100 € / night
1 night
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