Cassis Lighthouse (Phare de Cassis)

Cassis is a small fishing port on the Provençal coast between Marseille and Toulon, tucked beneath the highest sea cliff in France, Cap Canaille, and at the edge of the Calanques National Park. The harbour and the coastline around it have been a working seafront for centuries, and as in other Mediterranean ports, a lighthouse or harbour light marks the approach for boats. Any visit to this part of the coast naturally includes the waterfront, where the light, the sea and the cliffs provide the main attraction.

The village of Cassis grew around its port, and the pastel-coloured houses along the quays, with their shutters and small restaurants, face the water. Fishing boats still tie up here, and the pointus, the traditional Provençal wooden boats, are common in the harbour. The Plage de la Grande Mer, the village beach, lies just beside the port, and the Musée de Cassis presents local history and traditions, and a market on the Place du Marché brings stalls of produce, olives, herbs and local crafts on certain mornings. Cassis is also known for its white wine, produced on terraced vineyards that climb the slopes behind the village.

The coast is the main reason to come. The Calanques, long narrow inlets with steep white limestone sides and clear green water, stretch east and west of the port, and the nearest ones, Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau, can be reached by walking trails or by boat trips from the harbour. Walking in the park requires preparation: paths are rocky, there is little shade and, in dry summers, access to some areas is restricted because of fire risk, so check conditions with the tourist office or the park before heading out. Boat trips offer a gentler introduction, with views of the cliffs and of caves such as the Grotte de la Baleine.

Cap Canaille is the other great landmark. This cliff of red and ochre rock rises nearly four hundred metres directly from the sea, and a road, the Route des Crêtes, runs along its top and offers wide views of the coast. At sunset the rock glows orange, and it is often photographed from the port.

A walk around the harbour and its edges is a relaxed way to spend a morning or evening, and the port is easy to reach on foot from the village centre. The waterfront suits families, couples, photographers and those who like boats and sea air. In summer, the village is very busy and parking can be difficult, so arrive early or use public transport. The harbour light is best seen as one part of that stroll, and the tourist office can tell you what is accessible.