Tourist attractions La Ciotat

From Cassis, head towards La Ciotat on the Route des Crêtes , dotted with panoramic viewpoints created to enjoy the mountains in the Cap Canaille massif, with spectacular cliffs (the highest in France) overlooking the sea. The word ‘‘canaille’’ come..

With its vertical walls and emerald waters, this is the most picturesque and the most famous of the calanques , bordered by a forest of pinnacles dominated by the peak known as "Doigt de Dieu". Sand and pebble beach (no lifeguard).

The Massif des Calanques stretches almost 20km between Marseille and Cassis. This rocky limestone landscape is dazzling white and culminates in the 565m-high Mt Puget. Its outstanding charm can be ascribed to the creeks deeply chiseled into its coast..

This little creek with turquoise waters is nicely sheltered by the surrounding high walls and has thus been adopted by naturists. Beware of falling stones, which often cause accidents, and do not enter the caves.

This calanque offers a wild setting with little sign of human presence: tiny creeks for swimming, clusters of cabanons at the bottom of the valley, restaurant, small port… idyllic.

Lovely view of the Île Verte from the calanque .

The peculiar rock formations (similar the Rocher du Capucin) and cliffs pierced with sharply ridged cavities lend this calanque plenty of personality.

This protected natural park can be explored via a waymarked path. Keen botanists will be enthused by oaks, mimosas, laurel trees, arbutus, herbs and myrtles. There is a lovely view over La Ciotat and around from the summit (150m).

From the small fort that stands on the island you can see the Rocher de l’Aigle at its best angle, with its silhouette that calls to mind a bird of prey. Swimming, fishing, a picnic or a meal in the restaurant – perfect for a family day out.

Numerous cabanons (small stone structures), small port, beach and seafood restaurants: this is the locals’ favourite calanque . Separated from Morgiou by Cap Morgiou , the belvedere affords magnificent views of the two creeks and the east coast o..

Structured movements such as Arte Povera, New Realism or Supports/Surfaces and the eclecticism of the Eighties: compressions and extensions by César, compositions by Richard Baquié or Daniel Burren, works by Martial Raysse, Arman, Tinguely, Yves Lein..

High above its steps this 17C Church looks over the lively old port. Inside modern decoration carried out by local painters Gilbert Ganteaume (the fresco) and Toni Roux (the paintings at the bottom of the nave). In the lower right hand side there is ..

The Port Vieux, over which the Notre Dame du Port church looms with its warm-coloured façades, is the hub of local life on fine days thanks to its café and restaurant terraces.

This museum in the former town hall houses souvenirs and documents relating to La Ciotat’s maritime past.

Rocks, sand, underwater slabs and Posidonia prairies are home to many types of fish. This marine park regulates fishing, diving and boats dropping anchor in an effort to protect the animals and plantlife.

Eighty-five steps carved out of the rock lead to the platform overlooking the chapel, from where there is a superb view over the bay of La Ciotat. The chapel houses a number of touching commemorative plaques.

It was in this palace built by Auguste Lumière that his son Louis astounded local notables in 1895 with his projection of The arrival of a train at La Ciotat station , which heralded the birth of cinema.

A mix of hotels, villas, restaurants and guingettes (open-air cafés) run along the edge of these gently sloping sandy beaches.

The pebble plage du Liouquet surrounded by reddish cliffs, on top of which grow pine forests, is reached by a path that is rather steep at first.

In 1895, Louis Sicard designed the famous ceramic cicada. Since then, it has been popping up everywhere: on the fronts of houses, on pieces of appliqué work lining corridors, and of course in most souvenir shops.