The Calanques

The calanques are creeks or mini-fjords that cut into the limestone cliffs between Marseille and Cassis, making spectacular contrasts of white walls and turquoise water.

The calanques are so beautiful that they are now a National Park. You can visit by tourist boat from Cassis, but for the adventurous it is better to rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. You can also hike if you are fit. Hiking access is controlled according to weather conditions/fire risk.

There is one way to get to a calanque by car - if you have a restaurant reservation in the calanque de Sormiou, this allows you to drive all the way down to the sea. Here there is a small sandy beach and a gorgeous bay.