Calanque de Callelongue

Calanque de Callelongue marks the southern limit of the city of Marseille and the edge of the Calanques National Park, at the end of the Route des Goudes in the 8th arrondissement, about 12 kilometres south of the Vieux-Port. The shore is a narrow strip of pebbles beside a tiny harbour lined with fishermen's cabins, so the character is that of a small working hamlet rather than a sandy beach. The water is clear and the setting is rugged and open to the sea, with arid hills rising behind the cabins. Outside the summer weekends the calanque is calm and quiet, and it serves as a base for divers and kayakers as well as the starting point of the walk to Marseilleveyre, which takes about one hour and is closed on fire-risk days. Facilities on the pebbles are limited, so visitors bring water, food and shade. Access requires planning. By car or bike, the Route des Goudes runs along the coast, but traffic jams are common in summer, and a gate closes a few hundred metres before the calanque during the daily summer closure, which applies on weekends and holidays in May and daily from June to September. In season, a shuttle boat runs from Pointe Rouge to Les Goudes, at EUR 8 (~$9) from the Vieux-Port, cash only, followed by a walk to Callelongue. The last stretch is on uneven ground and is not suitable for wheelchairs. Weekday mornings outside the summer holidays are the quietest time, with the road and pebbles least busy. Callelongue suits divers, kayakers, hikers and swimmers who prefer a low-key fishing-harbour setting in Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, and who are comfortable walking the final section and checking closure notices before leaving.