Apartment rental Cassis, Cote d'Azur, Provence, France

Cassis was a very ancient fishing port and is an interesting village to visit. It was rebuilt in the 18th century on the old ruins. Some of the buildings however date back to the 16th century. A walk through the old cobbled streets reveals some lovely old buildings, some restored with the colourful pastels of Provence. The harbour area is the prettiest part of Cassis. A large, tree shaded square in the corner of the harbour is a popular place to relax with a drink and watch the locals play boules. The nearby public beaches are both clean and un-crowded.

Beaches - There are several beaches in and around Cassis. The main one La Grande Mer is is very popular. It is a true sand beach fringed with rock, no dogs are allowed here. There are showers, WC, volley-ball and restaurants nearby. It is supervised by lifeguards.

A bit further on is the 'clothing optional' beach (more topless really) Plage du Bestouan. This is also sandy and patrolled. There are a couple of snack bars nearby, but slightly more out of town.

Quieter beaches are The Plage de l'Arene and Plage du Corton which are both rocky beaches and not supervised, there are small parking facilities (better to walk). You can bring dogs to these, and find plenty of hidden places to sunbathe and watch the waves crash.

The Calanque du Port Pin also has a pebble/sand shallow beach (you can hike there from Cassis in about 45 min-1 hour).
The Calanque d'En Vau is more remote, and is either a very long hike (1 hour more past Port Pin) or a short boat ride away, it is a particularly pretty beach, there is also rock climbing at En Vau.

Vineyard and winery tours - Above all, Cassis is famous for the wine produced here and especially the excellent white wine that traditionally accompanies Bouillabaisse (seafood stew). Cassis was awarded the status of “Appellation d'Origine Controlée” in 1936, the first area in the region to receive this honour. Many of the local Chateaux welcome visitors and offer free wine tasting. The whole town celebrates at the beginning of September with a wine festival. Day trips to many local wine domains in the area are an easy outing. You can visit and taste at vineyards all around Cassis.

Cafes and Restaurants - The harbour is surrounded by restaurants offering good food and lovely views but it is worth exploring the back streets and hidden alleys for excellent food at more competitive prices. A few recommendations follow:
Nino's in the harbour for a treat.
Le Clos des Aromes is close to Lilas with a lovely garden for the summer and a roaring open fire for the winter.
Restaurante le Bonaparte for great bouillabaisse (book and order in advance) and excellent sea food.
Le Calendel behind the main port, up some steps near the tattoo parlour for more superb sea food, especially scallops.
Angelina in the main street for good Italian food.

Markets - The colourful market comes to Cassis village square twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday, there is also a food and fish market open mornings only at Place Baragnon.
The scene is just as you imagine.....olives, cheeses, honey, fruit and vegetables together with that essential bustle of people.
In December there is a Christmas market.

Other local Interest and services

Casinos - Casino Barrière de Cassis, with bars, restaurants, 250 Slot Machines , Craps Table, Punto-banco Table, Stud Poker, French Roulette, English Roulette, Boule, Black Jack - Avenue du Professeur Leriche, 13260 Cassis.

Museums - The Mediterranean Municipal museum of Arts and Popular Traditions has a splendid collection of paintings, plus archaeological finds.

Cinema	Churches
Railway Station	Public-Library
Medical-Services	Launderette
Children's Playground	ATM

Places to Visit

Around Cassis - The whole town is dominated by the towering cliffs of Cap Canaille and the imposing “Chateaux de la Maison des Baux” built in 1381. This is a fine old chateau-fort, which dominates the harbour but is privately owned and closed to the public. A walk up to the hill top beside the chateau offers a good view down to the village and harbour.

Neighbouring villages are La Ciotat (9 km), Roquefort la Bédoule (5 km) and Carnoux en Provence (7 km).

Other enjoyable days out include visits to Marseille (22km) with marinas, museums, monuments, shopping, antiques, handicrafts, beaches and more.

Le Castellet, a very well worthwhile half-day trip from Cassis (about 27kms away)...medieval walled village on a hill with great views over Bandol vineyards

Also worthwhile is a visit to Aix-en-Provence (35km) the birth place of Cezanne and where music and dance festivals take place.

The Calanques - A national park of provencal fjords with crystal clear, green water. Framed by white limestone cliffs and the deep blue of the ocean, secret beaches and coves await discovery. Catch a boat from the port (they leave every half hour) and hop off in a Calanque where you can enjoy a picnic, the sun and a spot of diving or snorkeling.

A renowned diving area, complete with Roman wrecks, lies half an hour’s boat ride out to sea.

A visit to the nearby Calanques is a must for anyone who visits Cassis. The Calanques are a series of deep, narrow inlets in the rocky cliffs between Cassis and Marseille. At some points they are incredibly deep and this makes them popular with climbers. Some of the larger Calanques even contain small towns and harbours, traditionally used by sailors sheltering from the winds of the Mediterranean.

Popular Local Activities

Climbing - You may wish to take advantage of the world famous rock climbing nearby (some of the best limestone sea-cliffs in Europe). Rock climbers come here from all over Europe to scale the white cliffs of the Callanques. Many of the climbs start directly from sea level and go up as high as 240 metres. Small boats at the harbour take climbers out to the base of the cliffs, or the tourist navettes will drop them off or pick them up at accessible points.

Cycling - This is popular cycling country, a cycle race goes through Roquefort-la-Bedoule, 5 km up the road.
Mountain bike tracks can be found locally, plus mountain bikes for hire.

Walking - A local map of Cassis and the Calanques is available (free) from the Office de Tourism; it includes cycling and hiking routes. There are well-marked footpaths from the Route des Calanques behind the western beach; it’s about a 90-minute walk to the furthest and best Calanque, En Vau, where you can climb down rocks to the shore.

The GR98, Grande Randonnée, passes through the center of Cassis.
To the west, the GR98 follows the calanques coastline to the Massif de Marseilleveyre and the edge of the city of Marseilles. There are also other local trails in the Calanques, allowing some loop hikes.
To the east, the GR98 goes out past (and partly along-side) the auto route into the hills. It joins with the GR51, Balcony of the Cote d'Azur, about 10 km out of Cassis. Some local loop hikes are marked on the Corniche des Crêtes, between Cassis and La Ciotat.

Boat Rides/Tours - You can buy tickets for tours of either three Calanques (45 mins), seven Calanques (1 hour), or ten calanques (1 and a half hours) from a kiosk by the harbour. Your ticket will tell you which dock your boat will depart from.

It’s a good idea to be waiting on your feet by the appropriately numbered sign well ahead of the appointed time, as seating on the boats is first-come, first-served. The right side of the boat is much better than the left, as that is the side facing the coast on the way out, when the boat is entering the calanques. On the way back, the boat pretty much speeds along a way out from shore, and you don’t get the same great view. If you’re planning to take pictures, it’s to your advantage to find a seat on the outside of the bow, at least if it’s not too windy and the sea is calm (no spray), or alternatively where you will not be looking through a window.

It is advisable to wear sunscreen and/or a hat, as it is often very bright out on the water. Consider bringing a windbreaker if it’s breezy or cloudy, as the temperature may be a little cooler out on the water.

Scenic-Drives	Tennis
Bird-Watching	Golfing
Flora and Fauna	Canyoning
Horseback-Riding	Mountain-Climbing

.......and of course - Relaxing - Restaurants, cafes, beach, shops, harbour, etc or enjoy a peaceful stroll along the water’s edge.

Water Sports

Diving	Snorkeling
Kayaking	Canoe rentals
Wind-Surfing	Surfing
Water-Skiing	Swimming
Sea Fishing	Pier-Fishing
Yachting	Reefs
Pedal-Boating	Paddle-Boating

Dates to Remember

For a list of many other local events in the region throughout the year please click here