Tourist Office Cassis

"Qui a vist Paris se noun a vist Cassis, a ren vist"
(He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing).
Even if this saying by Frédéric Mistral may seem exaggerated, it nevertheless reflects the interest of this little seaside resort nestling at the foot of the impressive Cape Canaille cliffs. A former Roman trading post, Cassis is very charming, with its quays lined by cafés and restaurants, its jagged coves, its natural beaches and its old town.

There is a very special walk on the Promenade des Lombards. At the top end of this royal path, which links Grande Mer beach to Courton Bay, the view is unique. The walk is full of surprises, starting with the (private) castle: built in the 13th century by Hugues des Baux and remarkably restored, it stands in the middle of an immense garden planted with rare trees. Other places of interest are: the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) - a former 17th century mansion on a shaded square where Cassis people love to "take the air" and play bowls on summer evenings - and the Musée d’Arts & Traditions Populaires (Folk Museum).

Many visitors come to see the calanques, stroll around the harbour, savour the fish and shell-fish, and taste the area’s excellent wines. Cassis AOC produces a reputed white wine with a very special flavour. It is one of France’s oldest AOCs (guaranteed vintages). The vineyards are on terraced slopes overlooking the sea. The calanques of Cassis and Marseille can be visited on foot or by boat. Port-Miou is a former quarry, 1 km long. It shelters a small harbour. Port-Pin has a nice small, shaded beach. En-Vau is the most remarkable, with its cliffs and its needle rocks it is well-known for its climbing routes and crystal-clear waters.

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