Calanques National Park

Where it is & how to get there

• By boat: Boat tours leave from the Vieux-Port in Marseille and from the port of Cassis; the easiest way to see many calanques.
• Hiking: Bus B1 to Luminy for the trail to Sugiton (about 1 hour); from Cassis, walk to Port-Pin and En-Vau.
• Sormiou & Morgiou: Reached on foot or by car with limited access in summer; check the park's rules before you go.

The story of the Calanques

The calanques are narrow inlets cut into white limestone cliffs, formed when the sea rose after the last Ice Age and flooded old river valleys. In 2012 the area became the Calanques National Park, the first national park in Europe to cover land, sea and the edge of a big city at the same time.

Under the cliffs lies the Cosquer Cave, discovered by a diver in 1985 with paintings of horses, seals and penguins made about 30,000 years ago. Its entrance is now underwater, and a full-size replica, Cosquer Méditerranée, opened by the MuCEM in 2022.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• In summer, access to the trails can be restricted because of fire risk. Check the official site before going.
• Bring plenty of water, good shoes and a hat: there is no shade or water on most trails.
• En-Vau is often called the most beautiful calanque, but the path down is steep and rocky.

What's around the Calanques

• CassisA pretty fishing port with boat trips into the calanques.
• Cap CanailleOne of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, with a scenic road.
• Cosquer MéditerranéeReplica of the prehistoric Cosquer Cave by the MuCEM.
• LuminyUniversity campus at the start of the Sugiton trail.

Questions travellers ask