Calanque de Port-Miou — Attraction in Marseille

Put on your best pair of hiking shoes but first, find a 🅿️ space, which is going to be a challenge. March is not even the high season yet. From the gate (which is locked), it’s a walk of at least 1km to the location where you have the best view of the calanque. Along the way, you can catch a glimpse of the marina where yachts are moored. When you reach the end (entrance to the marina) is where your cameras will never stop clicking. Have a spare power bank at hand. Views here and beyond is spectacular. At one point you will come to a place where the calanque meets the sea. This is also where you could see the rocky outcrop and part of the bay where Cassis sits. Next, your knees will have to take a small beating. It’s an approximate 500 meters hike up a trail (ascending) with sharp rocks to a vantage point of Calanque de Port-Miou. We were in awe. There’s another surprise which will greet you when you reach the this steep rocky top. You will see Calanque de Port Pin down below, on the other side. It is a steep descend to the small patch of beach. The walk and the hike was all worth it. Take a rest, take some photos or dip your feet into the water. Take it all in. There was already a small crowd, when we arrived. Then while you are doing that, think of the long walk back to your vehicle. 😂😂😂.

Note: Extreme caution is required when hiking during rainy weather. There are lots of weathered stone surfaces which...

Stunning area of great natural beauty - unfortunately all the paths and forests were closed the day we went (fire risk) so we roamed about the local area and swam off the rocks by the car park exit. Was still worth visiting despite the closure ❤️ Update! I checked on the "my Provence" website and found that the calanques were open on weds 2nd August so we visited again. We drove our rental fiat 500 from Marseille (approx 35 mins), parked on avenue Notre dame and began the hike. The first stretch is comparatively easy, on the 2nd stretch I began wondering what I was letting myself in for, and the 3rd leg to port d'en Vau is really not for the faint hearted! Esp in the midday sun! Sturdy shoes are a must, as is plenty of water and some food (the only kiosk is at the start on the port miou stretch and I'm not sure has regular open hours) The sea in the calanques is utterly beautiful turquoise and azure colours but be warned - it's cold(ish)! It's also worth taking sea shoes or flip flops as the beaches at port pin and (more so) port d'en Vau are pebbly and hard on the feet. Well worth a visit- you'll take home wonderful memories, photos (and pride for completing the hike!) Just make sure you're...

The Calanque of Port Miou (best port in Provence) is a natural shelter for ships. There are about 500 at anchor during the year. It is the only cove accessible by car and is the starting point of a hiking trail, the GR 98 which crosses the calanques Marseille in six to eight hours of walking according to the levels.

The site is magnificent, like a fjord of Provence including several sources of fresh water plunging in a turquoise water, all surrounded by a magnificent pine forest. This former quarry of limestone exploited from 1901 to 1982 is separated from the roadstead of Cassis by the Peninsula. The latter is very popular with tourists and has many restaurants. The contrast is striking between the white limestone of the Presqu'île and the ocher of the cliffs. The creek of Port Miou does not have a beach, but it is the starting point of many excursions in the massif of the creeks.

Little curiosity: the hole of the "blower". It is a geological curiosity, a fault in the rock originating in the water and ending at the top of the ratchet by a very small hole. The waves compress the air in this natural conduit which escapes from the summit by emitting strange sounds. That can surprise...