France
La Ciotat to Cassis
This route starts in La Ciotat and follows along the Sentier du Cap Canaille. Length: 12 km Elevation gain: 850 moh Total duration: 6 hours
Arrival in La Ciotat
About half an hour by train from Marseille lies La Ciotat, a small coastal town with cozy streets, some nice restaurants and a beautiful harbour. Some recommendations for food here: De la Vigne à l'Olivier (Italian) Kashmir (Indian) Boulangerie Foodetoi (bakery)
Start of the hike along the Sentier du Cap Canaille
From the centre of La Ciotat, follow the Rue de la Croix, which leads you out of the town and into the mountains. The route runs over the highest cliffs in France - spectacular views guaranteed. Make sure to bring enough food and water, since there are no stops along the way. Even the ascent is worthwhile: the harbor of La Ciotat with its neighboring, strikingly towering cliffs is always worth a look back. Follow the yellow marked Sentier du Cap Canaille to the west. From now on, the path winds almost exclusively along the edge of the cliffs, sometimes up, sometimes down. Only in a few places do we touch the panoramic route known as Route des Crêtes for motorists.
Final kilometers to Cassis
The last kilometers to Cassis are not hiking path anymore, but bigger roads. It leads you past vineyards and a monastery where Vin de Cassis is made. Make sure to taste a glass in the village. When in Cassis, you can clearly see where you hiked on the orangy cliffs that tower east of the village.
Spend the night in Cassis
Ah, sleeping in Cassis: there is always a catch: either the rooms are expensive or they are somewhat cheaper, but very small, further outside, poorly rated or located on a thoroughfare. We decided to stay in a super tiny Airbnb in the centre, so we could enjoy the sunset and stroll through the tiny streets of the famous coastal town. Some places to eat: Casa Roma Pizza al taglio (pizza) L'escalier (sea food) Le Grand Bleu (sea food)
