Things to do in Cassis – Visit the Calanques

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“…I’ve settled in Cassis, a pretty little port an hour from Marseille. Some white, some blue, some orange harmonically dispersed in pretty undulations.  All around mountains with rhythmic curves.”

~ Paul Signac in a letter to Vincent van Gogh, 12 April 1889

The Calanques of Cassis, a series of coves nestled between towering limestone cliffs, dot the coastline of southern France between the village of Cassis and the city of Marseille. The rugged coastal terrain, known as le Massif des Calanques, has been part of the Calanques National Park since 2012, and offers over 12 miles of hiking trails and amazing views of the many inlets and of the Mediterranean Sea.

Signac - La Calanque edit

Consisting of over 20 named inlets, the calanques – several of which are accessible from Cassis – have been immortalized in such works of art as:

La Calanque – Paul Signac, 1906 (Fin-de-Siècle Museum, Brussels, Belgium)

Port Miou Marina Cassis France

The three calanques closest to the village of Cassis are Port Miou,

Port Pin Cassis France

Port Pin,

Calanque En Vau Cassis France

and En Vau.

Port Miou Marina Cassis France

Of these, the easiest to access on foot is Port Miou.

Port Miou Quarry Cassis France

The site of a former limestone quarry, the inlet today is home to a marina.

Boats in Port Miou Marina Cassis France

The Sentier du Petit Prince, a designated hiking trail looping around the peninsula (presqu’ile) and with access to the marina is named in memory of writer, poet, and aviator, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince.

Sign for Calanques Cassis France

Sign for Hiking Trail to Cliffs

To reach the trail, or just to enjoy the view from the cliff, follow the coastal road (and the signs) north of the main harbor, heading west.

Cliff Side Houses Cassis France

The walk takes you past cliff-side homes

Bestouan and Same Same Beach Cassis France

and a few beaches.

View from Calanque Boat Tour Cassis France

A great way to see the calanques, to appreciate the sheer height of the cliffs and the crystal clear emerald water, is by boat.

There are several excursions per day ranging from 45-minutes to 2 hours in length. Cruise options include 3, 5, 8 or 9 calanques.

Ticket Kiosk for Calanque Boat Tours Cassis France

Boats depart from the main harbor and tickets can be purchased from the yellow kiosk at Quai St. Pierre.

Cap Canaille Cassis

One advantage of the boat excursion is the fantastic view of Cassis and Cap Canaille on the return trip from the calanques.

Ticket Info:

Adult rate (3 Calanques: Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau) = 16.00€

Adult rate (5 Calanques: Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau, l’Oule, Devenson) = 19.00€

Adult rate (8 Calanques: Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau, l’Oule, Devenson, Oeil de Verre, Sugiton, Morgiou) = 22.00€

Adult rate (9 Calanques: Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau, l’Oule, Devenson, Oeil de Verre, Sugiton, Morgiou, Sormiou) = 27.00€

Travel tip:

If you plan to hike the trails, be sure to bring an adequate amount of drinking water. As someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, I was excited to come across https://outdoorstack.com/. The website offers a wealth of information for outdoor enthusiasts, including reviews of gear, advice on outdoor activities, and tips. I believe it has the potential to become one of the top resources for outdoor enthusiasts.

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