Les Calanques
Overland
Production : 
© 2014
Production : © 2014
The Parc National des Calanques, is a 20 km long, wild and spectacular stretch of rocky mountains rising out of the beautiful turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The rocky cliffs are interrupted here and there by small, idyllic beaches, accessible only by boat.
If you want to visit the Calanques between October and June, you should go on the marked hiking trails. In July and August, most of the trails are closed due to forest fire danger. The only possibility then is to get there by boat or ship, as we did from Sanary-sur-Mer, where we made an unforgettable trip with the "Croix du Sud".
It is almost like a miracle to find a haven like the Parc National des Calanques so close to bustling Marseille. In parts of this tiny, 85-square-kilometer area of scrub-covered, curving rocky outcrops, it's easy to think you're miles from civilization. Then, a bend in a pine-covered gorge reveals France's second-largest metropolis sprawling seemingly within reach; the Calanques seem like uninhabited suburbs.
But with their light-filled setting, rich flora and fauna, and idyllic hidden coves, Les Calanques are so much more than that. They are loved by the Marseillais, who come here to soak up the sun, hike over pine-clad rocky outcrops, cruise around on boats, and simply relax.
A handful of Parisian elegance from the left bank of the Seine deep in Provençe, this is Aix with all its class.
The Calanques are a 20 km long, wild and spectacular stretch of rocky mountains and turquoise Mediterranean Sea.
Cassis is one of the oldest foundations of Massalia. Poets and painters raved about the small port.
The village of Le Castellet is set on the top of one of the many steep hills on whose slopes wine is grown.
Along the coastal strip, La Ciotat and the Mediterranean Sea are like an old married couple for more than 20 km.
For many years, Marseille had a serious image problem because of its grotty reputation.
Marcel Pagnol wants to make the castle the film city of Marseille and create a "Hollywood Provençal".
Sanary is an insider tip for over 100 years and has a turbulent, history in the time of the 2nd World War.
If you want to stroll through cozy alleys of the old town for window shopping, you are in the right place.
