From Cassis through the Parc National des Calanques to Les Baumettes
Stage 4: Directions
From Cassis to the Parc National des Calanques
The fourth stage takes us on the GR 51 from Cassis to the spectacular fjord landscape of the Parc National des Calanques. Before starting the hike, however, you should find out whether the nature reserve is open for crossing.
In case of acute danger of forest fire (high temperatures or strong wind) the access for hikers is prohibited! This is especially between early July and mid-September regularly the case. The tourist office of Cassis informs directly on site and online about the access regulations (Link: https://www.ot-cassis.com/de/zugang-zu-den-calanques.html). Alternatively, information can also be found here: http://cg13.eway.fr/conditions.php. There, during the season, a daily updated table for the entire department of Bouches-du-Rhône is provided - for our hike, the third entry from the bottom is relevant ("Les Calanques entre Marseille et Cassis").
If access is closed, be sure to respect this: being in such a difficult-to-access area when there is a risk of forest fire can be life-threatening. Those who are affected by the closure and therefore cannot continue hiking as planned should allow themselves an extra night in Cassis, take a boat trip to the Calanques, lie on the beach or visit one of the wineries in Cassis (more info here: https://www.ot-cassis.com/de/). Those who hike between October and the end of May are on the safe side: the law, on the basis of which access can be regulated, is only applicable between 01 June and 30 September.
Today's hiking route leads us first along the natural harbor of the Calanque de Port-Miou and then on the GR 51 into the nature reserve. There is some up and down with quite a lot of altitude to overcome. But the effort is rewarded in clear weather with a 180-degree view over the entire coast: In the east, the reddish cliffs of Cap Canaille are visible, right behind it rises the silhouette of Cap Sicié (near Toulon). The eye-catcher in the west is Cap Morgiou with the calanque of the same name.
Facts about stage 4
Route: 15.7km
Altitude: 780 m ascent / 690 m descent
Duration: 6:30h (without breaks)
See also elevation profile
Downloads details
Refreshment stops along the way
No places to stop for refreshments on the way, take enough water and provisions with you!
Stage 4: accommodation
One of William's guest rooms
Overnight on the edge of the Parc National des Calanques
There are no accommodations in the Parc National des Calanques nature reserve itself, so at the end of stage 4 we have to switch to the southern outskirts of Marseille for the night. There are several alternatives for this:
- Overnight stay with William, who offers several guest rooms or apartments in one of the first houses on the edge of the national park (viacalanques.com, alternatively also bookable at Airbnb). William works as a photographer and has designed the rooms with great attention to detail. On request, William also offers breakfast (from 2 people, 7.50€ each). This is recommended, as there is no bakery or supermarket in the immediate vicinity of the accommodation. However, dinner is provided on site: At the end of the street is the pizzeria "Chez Ze". Especially on weekends, this pizzeria is very busy, so it is indeed advisable to reserve a table there directly while walking past at the end of stage 4. For those who prefer to supply themselves: At a distance of about 1.3 km straight down the main road there is a small fruit and vegetable vendor with local cheese and a few meters after that a bakery (about here). The nearest real supermarket is over 2 km away (here). However, the way there is anything but charming: one first passes a correctional facility and then encounters relatively large-scale apartment blocks that stand in sharp contrast to the nearby nature reserve. Our suggestion therefore: overnight stay at William's with breakfast, dinner at the pizzeria and filling up the water bottles for the next day with water from the tap. Provisions for the next stage is namely not necessarily needed -. see rest stops on stage 5.
- In case William's guest rooms are fully booked, or for those who want a little more comfort, there is an interesting alternative in Hôtel 96 (link: Hotel 96): Although you then have about 2 km longer way (past the prison, see above), but then ends up in a well-kept, park-like complex with a lot of comfort, large rooms and pool.
- As a last alternative, there is a bus connection at least every hour with line 22 in the direction of Marseille center with many more hotels (departure approximately at the level of William's house, Information about line 22).
William runs his small pension under the name "Le Garage des Calanques"
