Visit the 12 creeks from Marseille to Cassis inside only one trip !
Duration : approximately 3h15
Hidden natural treasure of the Bonne Mère of Marseille, these paradises have preserved their wild nature thanks to a great protection.
With Croisières Marseille Calanques, discover all the secrets of that fabulous creeks.
Considered as the west door of Calanques, it’s name comes from the cross situated at the end of peninsula where the fishermen inlaid small golden crosses, called crousettes, to protect their boats, their crews and of course their fishing. Discover this magical place with Croisieres Marseille Calanques.
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Located to the extrem south of Marseille, Cap Croisette is in the heart of the Riou archipelago. It's overhung by the natural massif of Marseilleveyre, which rises to 430m. This magical place has a restaurant and a diving center to discover the beauty of the seabed.
Maïre Island is a 42-meter islet located in front of Cap Croisette. This island is completed by another islet and not least : Tiboulen of Maïre Island nicknamed Turtle Island.
Here, the diving is the predominant activity because we can discover the natural beauty of the site, coral cave and fabulous wrecks full of histories.
The Callelongue is the starting point of many others calanques between Marseille andCassis. Loved place of marseillais and tourists, Callelongue located near of "Les Goudes" is an incredible and unavoidable place of the Marseilles littoral.
Named 'world's end", Callelongue is located to the extremity of the 8th district of Marseille.
We can discover a breathtaking landscape and beautiful creeks on all the coast from Marseilles to Cassis. You can also take the hiking trail GR98 and discover the whole massif.
Callelongue has so many stories to tell ! Small fishing port, Callelongue was and is always the fishermen's landmark with its typical huts.
It is also here that in 1967, a suprising machine has been created : the telescaphe. That machine was a hybrid mix between a scuba and a cable car. We can discover now the remains of this fabulous machine.
Marseilleveyre is a massif with a rich flora with some unique plants species. In that place we can discover the Calanque of the Mounine with its oak forest and a breathtaking view on the Riou Archipelago and the Cap Canaille.
Near of the Callelongue, the Marseilleveyre massif is a very natural place. From Marseilleveyre massif we can access to small pebble beaches, sand beaches and creeks. Ideally located, Marseilleveyre is in front of Riou archipelago.
Close to Marseilleveyre exists a small and charming creek named La Mounine. This little paradise has a small islet in front of the calanque.
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Situated in the heart of the Calanques, the archipelago consists of 4 main islands and numerous smaller islands. Often described as "enormous white stones burned out by the sun and dug by the wind", it is a sanctuary for numerous flora and fauna, and renowned for its rich sea bed. In 1992, this site was classified a Conservation Area.
Coastal treasure, the archipelago of Riou is a set of mediterranean islands. Maïre Island, Jarre, Jarron, Plane, Riou Island, all the island of that archipelago are composed with small calanques. Little creeks which permit to enjoy the beauty of landscape.
There are many calanques in Marseille and it is difficult to make the complete tour of them. By the sea you can discover all these steep creeks. Calanques des Queyrons, de l'Escu et de Podestat offer you a preserved and wild flora.
Famous for rock climbing, Sormiou is the widest Calanque in Marseille, 800m long and 600m wide. Its main feature being the numerous small houses where fishermen settled down from 1894 and established a small fishing port. Houses have neither running water, nor electricity. The access by road is well hidden, as if the inhabitants had wanted to protect this little piece of paradise. Discover this place by the sea and enjoy a wonderful visit!
Many movies have been shot in this calanque. Why ? It is a place that offers exceptional natural landscapes ! Turquoise blue sea and sand beach create an unbelievable decor. For example, "The French" movie starring Jean Dujardin ("The Artist") and Gilles Lellouche was shot in this beautiful calanque.
This creek, which is the widest of the Marseille creeks, has splendid turquoise waters, a sandy beach and some small beaches with pebbles. An idyllic setting accessible by boat.
In addition, Sormiou is a place known for its seabed which makes it an exceptional dive site.
Considered one of the most appreciated creeks of Marseille, Sormiou stands out from the other creeks by its size.
Its area extends over 800m long and 600m wide.
If it can be visited by land trails, to miss nothing of the beauty and treasures of Sormiou, nothing like a boat cruise! Enjoy an incredible view of Cape Sormiou, its unspoilt vegetation and its typical Provencal port.
Discover in 1985 by Henri Cosquer, the Cosquer cave is located 121 ft underwater. This cave out of the water 27 000 years ago is decorated with cave paintings.
Settled in the cove of the Triperie in Marseille next to Cap Morgiou, the Cosquer cave is as intriguing as it is exceptional.
The fabulous Cosquer cave is a paleolithic decorated cave. The paintings that adorn its walls are the work of men living there 27,000 years ago, when the water level was between 120 and 150 meters lower than the current level.
Good to know: this cave is the first to represent penguins on rock paintings!
It was in 1985 that Henri Cosquer, a professional diver residing in Cassis, discovered the exsitence of the cave in the depths of the creek. He will share his discovery and even give him his name. Accessed by a submerged tunnel 37 meters deep and 175 meters long, the cave is closed to the public for obvious security reasons.
However, the place still arouses the curiosity of tourists and Marseille dreaming to admire the 500 mysterious representations that adorn the walls of the cave.
By participating in our boat tour "The Integral of the creeks", you can see the emerged part of the cave Cosquer.
The mysterious atmosphere that surrounds this place gives it a character you aren't ready to forget!
Smaller than its neighbor Sormiou, Morgiou is however very similar: the same orientation, the same situation at the end of the valley and the same beautiful bank. It was in this small fishing port (XVth century) we celebrated a visit from the king with a traditional tuna fishing event called madrague. 37m under Morgiou Cape we find the prehistoric cave Cosquer, discovered in 1985. It is covered with rock paintings dating back 27 000 years. The site was inhabited because at that period it was 150m below sea level.
The calanque of Sugiton consists of two creeks, each with a small pebble beach surrounded by high cliffs. The access is limited because of falling stones. As the water comes from a spring in the mountain, the water is always cold. In front of Sugiton is an island called Torpedo, due to its shape of a military ship. A little further you will see an area reserved for the naturists.
Between Marseille and Cassis, the Glass Eye is a rocky creek located in Morgiou Cape.
The Eye-of-Glass is installed at the bottom of the Virgin Valley at the foot of the Grande Candelle between the Devenson creek and the pretty cove of Sugiton. Integrated in the district of Vaufrèges in the 9th district of Marseille, this creek attracts by its enigmatic side and its natural intimacy between the large blocks of stones that surround it.
Difficult to access, this creek is appreciated by confirmed hikers / climbers but also boaters who can enjoy the setting of this creek from the sea.
The Eye-Glass has a large brown spot in the wall of pines at the base that hides the entrance of a cave accessible only by hikers / climbers.
A glass ceramic eye has been embedded in the rock since 1904 in the lower part of the Virgin Valley.
Yet, it seems that the name of this creek isn't due to this.
According to the etymological origins, the word "eye" would be a linguistic deformation of the Provencal word aygue which means water.
For the expression "glass" it's possible that this comes from the turquoise color of the water or from a deformation of Provencal language "veyre" which means "to see"
Nobody knows exactly where the name comes. It's up to you to make your own story by discovering the creek of the Eye-of-Glass on one of our boats!
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The calanque of Devenson and the Eissadon are rocky coves. Difficult to access, you can visit these calanques by the sea. You can discover the famous needle of Essaidon and the magnificent asperities of these coastal rocks.
Remarkable point of this creek, the needle of Eissadon is the highest peak of this rocky creek. It sublimates the natural environment of this protected creek and gives it a magnitude.
If this creek is named "Devenson" it is with reference to the first mountaineer which climbed its rocky surface. Now the calanque of Devenson is one of the wildest coastal creeks of the littoral. Near of calanque d'Oules and Calanque named "Oeil de Verre", the Devenson's creek is a natural jewel.
L'Oule is a breathtaking creek. Composed by rocks cathedrals, this creek is often compared to the work of the Spanish artist Gaudi in Barcelona (Sagrada Familia). But here, this is only the inspiration of the nature...
Between Marseille and Cassis, the calanque of Oule is installed between the calanque of Devenson and the creek of En-Vau. Majestic, this creek is accessible only by sea or abseiling.
The visual interest of that creek is discovered by the sea. Difficult to access on foot, it's by boat that you can contemplate the majesty of this creek. Dominated by the Belvedere cliff, the Oule creek gives a grandiose landscape to all visitors.
With a submerged marine cave loved by divers, the creek l'Oule is full of surprises when you come to discover by boat.
The name of the calanque L'Oule comes from Provencal oulo which means "cooking pot" or "cauldron".
Typical of a valley having undergone a rise in the water level, this very narrow Calanque (700m long & 150m wide). With its turquoise waters, En-Vau is often compared to a large emerald and is considered as the Queen of Creeks.
Situated between the plateau of Cadeiron (151m) on its right and En-Vau Cape on its left, The 800m high peek is called God’s Finger. On its base is a submarine cave called the Hole of the Devil.
If it's common to believe that the calanque of En-Vau belongs to the city of Cassis, this natural jewel belongs however to Marseille..
The calanque of En-Vau seduced by its translucent and turquoise waters between the cliffs. A small intimate pebble beach embedded between the rocks offers a wonderful swimming spot in the Marseille massif.
Popular place for climbing, this iconic creek of the Calanques massif nicknamed the "queen of creeks" is preserved to preserve the sumptuous show staged by Mother Nature on the edge of the Mediterranean.
Want to visit it from the sea? Zoom on schedules and prices of our boat tours in the calanques !
It's the greenest Calanque, covered with Alep pines (local shrub) which grow in the crevices of the rock. 600m long and 200m wide, it creates a gigantic V with En-Vau and is very visible by plane when flying to Corsica.
These banks being less steep than its neighbor, Port Pin attracts numerous swimmers the summer.
Like its neighbor and sister calanque Port-Miou in Cassis, the creek of Port-Pin is a treasure of the city of Marseille. If it is so popular with the public, it is thanks to its easy access to its beautiful little beach of sand and pebbles.
Relaxing, this creek is cradled from the first beautiful summer days by the song of cicadas that are lodged in the hollow of the many pines that adorn the creek.
It's also to the Alep pines that this creek owes its name: these pines grow in balance on rock in this cove! What offer a remarkable decor and corners of shade very appreciable when the heat is felt especially and mainly in summer.
Very crowded, this creek is even more pleasant seen from the sea because it allows to have a global point of view on the panorama of this fabulous place.
This creek makes you dream? Come and discover it during one of our boat tours to discover the creeks of the Marseille coast.
Last Calanque before Cassis, Port Miou is the longest of all because it continues inland for 1,6km. Port Miou comes from the Latin name Portus Melior, “the best port”.
This port made the prosperous times of Cassis with wine and olive oil production and of course the Cassis stone.
Near of the calanque of Port-Pin, Port-Miou belongs to the commune of Cassis. Known for its small harbor which can accommodating nearly 500 boats, this calanque on two banks doesn't have a beach.
Port-Miou was for a long time a seigniory of the House of the Baux. Over the centuries it eventually became a career from which were extracted the famous stones of Cassis. Until 1982, the cove of Port-Miou was exploited to recover a stone white and solid which was used for the manufacture of lime in the 20th century.
The cliffs at the edge of the water are only the remains of the old stone quarry.
At sea level, there is also a seamount river. This submarine exsurgence is recognized as the most important river located between the Rhone and the Var in the Provence region.
Walk in Port-Miou on one of our boats: contact us !
We arrive at the last stage of our cruise before turning back towards Marseille.
The bay of Cassis is dominated by Cape Canaille, the highest cliffs of the Mediterranean Sea and east door of the massif of Calanques. The city of Cassis is famous for its beautiful landscape, its relaxed way of life and its vineyards, producing renowned wine.
Boaters like to moor their boats here to enjoy the calm of this place and the exceptional natural environment.
Once arrived in the bay of Cassis at the end of our nautical trip, you will be surrounded by the highest cliffs in Europe. Impressive and protective, these cliffs create a cocoon for those who come to approach the Cassis by boat.
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Overlooking the city on its iconic rock, you can see the Castle of Cassis overlooking the sea, the vineyards of Cassis and the port.
Dating from the Carolingian Empire this castle is a real treasure of architecture and heritage close to the creeks.
Other treasures are also hidden under the sea level, such as the Bestouan: this underground river that divers have climbed up for nearly 3 kilometers is located near the port of Cassis at the foot of the cliffs.
A mysterious little treasure that reinforces the magical effect of this exceptional place that is Cassis Bay!
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