Beaches in France: Cassis and Calanques

Already been to the famous beaches in France? Want to try something different?

Cassis and the Calanques might be just what you're looking for!

There are a number of beaches in and around Cassis.

The main beach is Plage de la Grande Mer which is a sandy beach, and usually quite busy. There are other beaches within walking distance to the village centre which are worth trying, such as Plage du Corton. Plage de l'Arčne is our favourite, about 20 minutes walk from the centre of Cassis. Both of these are rocky beaches.

One of the main attractions of Cassis is the nearby Calanques, which are small inlets with tiny, pine-fringed beaches and dramatic limestone cliffs.

The water is an amazing acqua colour, and is popular for swimming and snorkelling. Rock climbers love to come here too.

The shoreline along the Calanques is beautiful and pristine, largely due to the fact that it isn't easily accessible and so hasn't been built up or commercialised like many other parts of the coast down here.

Some of the most beautiful beaches in the Calanques include Port Pin and d'En-Vau.

The best way to reach the beaches along the Calanques is by boat.

You can find boat companies along the marina in Cassis who can drop you off at a beach and then pick you up later. Remember to bring plenty of water though because amenities can be very limited (or even non existent).

So...there you have it. Some of the most lovely beaches are just a hop away from the Riviera...