Established on 18 April 2012, Calanques National Park is France’s 10th national park and the first in Europe to encompass land, sea and areas on the outskirts of a city. Set along Provence’s limestone coast, the core of the national park extends across the municipalities of Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat. It is known worldwide for its stunning landscapes, remarkable biodiversity and rich cultural heritage.
In total, the areas proposed for the park’s core and considered by the French state cover approximately 8300 hectares of land and 43500 hectares of sea.
The immediate proximity of wild natural areas to France’s second-largest city is this area’s defining feature. The National Park’s main missions are to balance the preservation of natural and cultural heritage with human activities; welcome, inform and raise awareness among the public; and combat pollution on land and at sea. Achieving these goals relies above all on management measures, particularly awareness-raising and special regulations that allow the vast majority of activities to continue, with the help of all the National Park’s partners and in collaboration with local residents, users and professionals.
For today and for future generations, Calanques National Park aims to enable everyone to admire, work and live sustainably along this exceptional coastline, in harmony with nature and its cultural identity.
All the routes offered in this programme lie within the Park’s core zone and are subject to its regulations:
- Disembarking or embarking along the coastline of the core zone as part of commercial activities is prohibited, particularly in the calanques of En Vau and Morgiou, which are not equipped for this and suffer significant damage as a result. We respect this prohibition and have planned the hikes accordingly.
- Smoking is prohibited throughout the year. The natural areas within the Park’s core zone are particularly vulnerable to wildfires.
- It is important to stay on the tracks and paths to avoid disturbing wildlife or trampling plants.
Between 1 June and 30 September, information on access to the massifs is provided according to the wildfire risk. To protect walkers and the sites, and depending on weather conditions, access to the massifs may be permitted all day (orange day), only in the morning until 11am (red day), or prohibited all day (black day). Outside these periods, access to the massif may occasionally be prohibited depending on drought or wind conditions.
The Mediterranean flora of the Calanques is very fragile. It is important to stay on the paths and follow local recommendations for protecting this area, respect the animals (this is their home) and refrain from picking plants (a flower pulled out by its roots will not grow back!). Take all your rubbish away and put it in the designated bins.
THE CÔTE BLEUE
Located north of Marseille, this stretch of coast runs between L’Estaque and Martigues. Outside the National Park, the area has remained largely wild and is still spared the crowds of mass tourism. Its charm lies in the difficulty of reaching the countless little coves, beaches and bays along its shores. It holds a special place in the collective memory thanks to great filmmakers such as Marcel Pagnol and Robert Guédiguian. This coastline has a rich heritage, with forts built for defence and surveillance (Fort de Niolon, Fort de Figuerolles) and a railway line dotted with viaducts and engineering structures that blend harmoniously into the landscape. But the Côte Bleue is also an area rich in biodiversity, and unwary swimmers should take care! Its beaches are lined with pebbles and its waters are home to sea urchins… These are the stars of the famous “oursinades”, sea urchin festivals held in Carry-le-Rouet and Sausset-les-Pins during February. Among its plant life are the protected Posidonia seagrass meadows, which provide shelter for many fish. Finally, this coastal area is enriched by its residents and their traditional culture. Many fishermen’s cabins nestle in its rocky inlets, passed down through families from generation to generation. People still gather there today for celebrations with family or friends, enjoying a truly Marseille-style way of life: pétanque, afternoon naps, cicadas, aperitifs and galéjades (far-fetched tales)…
What sets the Côte Bleue apart, much like the calanques, is the effort needed to reach it. Getting there takes determination, a good pair of shoes, a boat or a train ticket! Its famous regional train serves numerous little stations along the beaches, making its way across many bridges and through tunnels. This railway, dating from the 1900s, was built under the direction of engineer Paul Séjourné. On foot, you can reach the little coves along the coastal path, or GR51, also known as the “Customs Officers' Path”.
