30 October 2023 | Tourism
Cassis and its famous water 'calanques'
Let's explore Cassis, a former fishing village in the south of France, located between La Ciotat and Marseille. It is nestled along the beautiful Mediterranean coast, between the high cliffs of Cap Canaille and the calanques.
Cassis: the market and the cafés
Cassis embodies the rhythm of the south between the lapping of the sea and the songs of the cicadas. Here the market is colourful and cheerful, the bars and cafes along the port are welcoming.
Famous for 'The Tropézienne' - this traditional tart is of Polish origin, imported by the pastry chef Alexandre Micka who settled in Saint Tropez in the 1950s. It is a brioche filled with pastry cream and butter cream with an orange blossom aroma.
You will obviously find several pretty shops selling bags and straw hats, a must-have for a summer wardrobe.
The Calanques
The calanques natural park extends from Marseille to La Ciotat. Wild coves with crystal clear water. They are accessible by sea or on foot.
On foot, the entrance is located 30 minutes from the city centre of Cassis on its peninsula and the Port-Miou cove. If you want to walk 15 minutes more you can access the Calanque de Port-Pin and an hour more with a little endurance (don't forget to hydrate) the Calanque d'En-Vau. From the port of Cassis several boats take you to the creeks.
Depending on your time and budget, you can visit 3, 6 or 9 coves with some swimming time depending on the routes offered.