Summer Access to the Calanques Near Marseille

Access to the Calanques National Park is controlled this summer due to damage to the ecosystem caused by the burgeoning numbers of visitors and increasing fire risks.  The Calanque de Sugiton, which used to attract up to 2,500 people daily, is limited to 400 entries in peak season. Pre-booking one of the free passes is via the new app.  Follow this link for the full details on the Masrille Tourism website. This regulation is in force until 31 August. Reservations are all cancelled by email in case of fire risk.

Calanques Near Marseille

Just east of Marseille lays the charming coastal town of Cassis, nestled at the bottom of steep, vineyard-covered hills that come almost to the sea. It’s so cute that you might think you are walking into a postcard. There’s nothing better than a stroll through town followed by a bowl of fish soup or some moules-frites at one of the many restaurants that line the docks.

The setting of Cassis is dramatic. Besides those vineyards, Cap Canaille—the highest cliff in France—towers over the town on its east side. And to the west are the beautiful and rugged calanques, the so-called mini fjords of France.

One of the easiest ways to see the calanques is by boat. You can choose from rides lasting 45 minutes to two hours, covering as few as three (3) or nine (9) calanques. The ticket office is at the Quai Saint-Pierre, but seats sell out fast in the high season, so you should get there early.

These stunning geologic features are in the Calanques National Park, which stretches between Marseille and Cassis. Dominated by stark grey limestone and dabbed with greenery here and there, the park provides a sharp contrast to the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. Aeons ago, ancient rivers carved canyons through this limestone on their way to the sea, forming the calanques we see today.

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