Les Calanques, Marseille

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I visited Les Calanques in October, and the boat departed from the old harbour
(le vieux port) in Marseilles.

If you want more information, contact: www.croisieres-marseille-calanques.com
or email: accueil@croisières-marseille-calanques.com

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Ready for some fascinating landscape? Take a bus to Luminy and do a little walking!

Luminy seems to be the University area of Marseille, but also the starting point for some wonderful hikes to and along the Calenques. There is a 3 km trail with interesting information posts. At the end we had the choice to either take another trail up to one of the mountains, one trail down to the sea or a short trail to a place called “Bellevue” – the beautiful view, so that was where we went! Beautiful views, indeed, but boy, that Mistral really blew hard!!! (see my warning and danger tip!)

The little calanque of Callelongue is our latest calanque of our hike from Luminy...we are finally in Marseille.
Hidden behind rocks of Saint Michel (321 m, containing 3 grottos) and Les Goudes (258 m), it is the terminus of the coastal street, the "end of the world" of the inhabitants of Marseille.
It inspired a lot of movie maker : Pagnol in "César" (1936), Verneuil pour "La table aux crevés" (1953),....

Sormiou is the calanques with the nicest colors...under the sun, you will be astonished by the contrast of the turquoise and blue water, the white houses and stones, the red roofs, the green nature...

Sormiou is the largest Calanque in the direction of Marseille. There is a little village and a UCPA sport center ...There is also a nice beach and the nicest things are the shades if blue and green in the water...really impressive!

This is my first impression of the Calanques...not bad isn't it? This is the small calanque of Sugiton (30 minutes from the University).
-You can choose a path going up to the Belvedere with a wondeful point of view on the calanques to the north and to the south ;-) But be careful to the wind!!!! I really thought I could fly!!!!
-Or you can go down to the little inlet to begin the hike to the Calanque of Callelongue...

The Calanques are chalcky rocks that reflects the sunlight...Sometimes, some flowers and plants still succeed in growing on it!!! And it is so nice to see! Sometimes you can also see some cristal formations ;-)

The garrigue is
a low vegetation mix, characteristic of the chalky hills of the Mediterranean, composed essentially of bushes (of which the broom, the juniper, the wild thyme, the rosemary and lavender) and of holly-oak. It is the consequence of the destruction, due to the slaughtering of wood, the culture and the fires, of the Mediterranean forest that growed once in the region.
This "garrigue" is the flora found in the Calanques. You will find it for example here on the path from Luminy University leading to the Calanque of Sugiton.