Excursions sights
La Ciotat, a Land of Nature
On its territory, La Ciotat has all the variations of a delightful coast.
To the west of the splendid «Golfe d’Amour», the highest cliffs in Europe (394 m) majestically plunge into the intense blue sea, projecting to form dreamy creeks, like the Mugel and Figuerolles creeks that are like monumental sculptures shaped by the hand of a heavenly creator.
The «Bec de l’Aigle» and the «Ile Verte», formed out of pebbles caught in gritty cement could also have been moulded by majestic, benevolent divinities.
The beauty of La Ciotat, praised for its charms by Lamartine and by Stendhal, has also been captured by many painters, including Georges Braque.
La Ciotat owes its maritime vocation to the Greeks, located by the Great Blue, surrounded by a paradise of greenery filled with the fragrance of the garrigue. At large, the «Ile Verte», with its lush vegetation acts like a natural breakwater. From the creek of Mugel whose is ending by the « Bec de l’Aigle», a splendid panoramic view opens out over the town and its surrounding areas. The Figuerolles creek with its rocky, jagged cliffs is nestled at the bottom of a small valley of greenery. The 20 km of coast provide the opportunity to try your hand at all water sports: sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, diving, etc.
La Ciotat, an Underwater World
The Bay of La Ciotat has a seabed of exceptional wealth and beauty. Diving is practised all year long. The most beautiful dives are often the easiest, like the famous «Grotte à Gaby», the «balise du Canonnier du sud» and the «dorsale des Cononniers» with its spectacular submarine cliffs.Furthermore, the Bay of La Ciotat is home to a Regional Marine Park.
L’Île Verte
The «Ile Verte» whose is located only ten minutes from the mainland coast by shuttle appears today as a hummock of greenery crowning the abrupt, bare cliffs. This landscape makes it the only wooded island of the Bouches-du-Rhône area. Two dreamy creeks with crystal clear waters are idle for pleasurable idleness and daydreaming. From Fort Saint Pierre, a vast panorama opens over the bay and its surroundings.
Golfe d’Amour Beaches
The coast of La Ciotat stretches over 19.5 km. Six sandy and pebble beaches cover approximately 6 km. La Grande Plage, boulevard Beaurivage, a gently sloping, sandy beach (safe for children). The Capucins, Cyrnos and Lumière beaches. The Mugel and Figuerolles creeks : pebble beaches. The beaches of Saint-Jean, Fontsainte and Arène Cros : pebble creeks.
The Land
The town of the Lumière brothers has not been spoilt by the artificial lights of the town and has preserved its environment from an anarchy of urbanisation.To the west, La Ciotat is bordered by line of cliffs of the Soubeyran massif. There, in the upper parts of the Fardeloup area you can discover «Le Pont Naturel». To the east, yo will find many small valleys with Romanesque names ideal for rambles : Vallon des Brusquières, des Ténèbres, de Mallombre, de l’Hermite, etc. Potholing fanatics can explore the cave of the Grand Draïoun.
La Route des Crêtes
La Route des Crêtes provides a breathtaking panoramic view. Viewpoints have been laid out so walkers can admire the exceptional sight over the Bay of La Ciotat to the islands of Marseilles. Then you will find the Semaphore at an altitude of 320 m.
Parc du Mugel, a Jewel of Greenery
Nestling in the shelter of the Bec de l’Aigle massif, visitors are surprised to discover a very varied, dense vegetation that is home to some rare species. The wealth of this vegetation is the result of the area’s micro-climate. The purpose-built picnic area and the marking of the various plant species enable visitors to really make the most of this exceptional.
