The Calanque of Port-Miou
The Calanque de Port Miou ("best port" in Provençal) is a natural shelter for ships. There are about 500 of them at anchor during the year. It is the only calanque accessible by car and is the starting point for a hiking trail, the GR 98, which runs along the Marseille calanques in six to eight hours' walk, depending on the level.
The place is magnificent, like a Provençal fjord with several freshwater springs immersed in turquoise water, all surrounded by a magnificent pine forest. This former limestone quarry exploited from 1901 to 1982 is separated from the Cassis port by the peninsula. This area is very popular with tourists and has many restaurants. The contrast is stunning between the white limestone of the peninsula and the ochre of the cliffs.
The Calanque de Port Miou does not have a beach, but it is the starting point for many hikes in the Calanques massif. Moreover, by continuing your hike, you will arrive, after a 30 minutes walk at the Calanque de Port-Pin. This cove is very famous for its turquoise waters and the richness of its underwater fauna and flora! It is a superb diving spot ☺ A small curiosity of the Calanque de Port Miou: the hole of the "souffleur". It is a geological curiosity, a hole in the rock that begins in the water and ends at the top of the rock with a very small hole. The waves compress the air in this natural conduit that escapes from the top by emitting strange sounds. That can surprise uninformed visitors! The Calanque de Port Miou belongs to Cassis. Why not rent a kayak or boat to discover the Calanques National Park. It would be a shame to miss the calanques of Marseille!
