Cassis and its surroundings

Famous for its picturesque landscape, the surrounding Calanques, the sea, and its white wine, Cassis is a charming Mediterranean harbor. The town numbers eight thousand inhabitants, although its population fluctuates depending on the time of the year.

Downtown Cassis is at a pleasant five-minute walk from the Foundation. There, you will find all the essentials: grocery stores, a few boulangeries, a drugstore, restaurants, a small bookstore, a stationery outlet, and a colorful outdoor market on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Cassis is situated at the very south of the National Park of the Calanques and faces the Cap Canaille cliff, one of the highest in Europe. Both natural sites are perfect for hiking.

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Surrounding environment

The Calanques are limestone cliffs that drop directly into the Mediterranean Sea. They are considered in France areas of outstanding natural beauty. The Calanques National Park extends over twenty kilometres and offers an amazing landscape with a dozen calanques connecting Marseille to Cassis. Walking from one city to the other is about a 12-hour hike and includes some rock climbing. Good shoes are required as paths can be slippery, very steep, and rocky. If you suffer from vertigo, some hikes are not recommended.

Also called the Falaise de Soubeyran, the Cap Canaille is one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. A hiking path along the Route des Crêtes towards La Ciotat offers impressive views of the Calanques, Cassis, and La Ciotat. The Cassis-La Ciotat hike takes 4 hours (one way). Note that the Route des Crêtes is closed during windy days and sundays. 

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• Marseille

As the oldest city of France and its Mediterranean capital, Marseille has always been at the intersection of diverse cultures. Numerous historical and architectural sites are worth a visit: Le Corbusier’s Cité radieuse, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Vieux Port, the Mucem, the contemporary art center La Friche la Belle de Mai…

• Aix-en-Provence 

Its historical center as well as its many squares and fountains have naturally appealed to artists such as Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola, and Mirabeau. The city is home to religious buildings from various architectural styles and epochs, as well as the Festival d’Art Lyrique.

• Arles 

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Arles is known for its impressive Roman heritage. It is also famous for the international photography festival Les Rencontres d’Arles.

• La Ciotat 

Located at the south-east of Cassis and on the other side of Cap Canaille, La Ciotat is home to the Cinéma Eden Théâtre, the oldest movie theater in the world, founded by the Lumières brothers. The botanical gardens, the Parc du Mugel, and the Calanque of Figuerolles are also worth exploring.