Les Calanques, Marseille

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The Calanques national park which is on the coast between Marseille and Cassis (a little town next door to Marseille) offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean coastline.

If you’re a nature-lover, you like hiking or simply want to see outstanding views, Les Calanques is the place for you. The name of the massif, which stretches for 20 kilometres as far as Cassis, comes from the latin Calanca, meaning a rocky creek. In 1991 the Cosquer cave, the oldest painted underwater cave, dating from 27.000 years before our time, was discovered on this site though it is, unfortunately closed to the public. In 2012 Les Calanques became a national park, the first such park in Europe which includes land, sea and urban territories. The site, full of rare flora and fauna, has over two million visitors a year.

The park is huge, so you won’t be able to see the entire park in one day.

You can get to Les Calanques by bus 20 from Goudes. Public transport is available to the park’s main entry points: Callelongue, Baumettes, Luminy. Several navigation companies propose a cruise departing from Old Port in the Calanques as far as Cassis.

It is recommended to wear sports outfit or at least comfortable shoes. Do not forget your swimming suits!