Marseille and the calanques

As it enters Marseille, the “autoroute” offers a spectacular overview of the city (the second largest in France, after Paris) and it's pretty easy to drive on La Canebière and get a sense of this diverse and unique urban complex.

Yet, just a few minutes away, on the seaside are “The calanques”, a geological formation can be found extending 20 km in length and 4 km in width along the coast between Marseille and Cassis, culminating in Marseilleveyre (432 m) and Mont Puget (565 m).

They are popular among tourists and locals, offering some spectacular and totally wild vistas. A great number of hikers frequent the area, following numerous pre-marked trails. The cliffs are also popular among rock climbers.

Most of the calanques are closed to the public during the summer (typically July through September) due to the fire danger that exits during the dry season. We were there right in time!