Calanques National Park is a natural heritage that stretches over an area of 520 square kilometers (201 square miles). A part of the park is the Massif des Calanques that covers not one but three towns namely La Ciotat, Marseille and Cassis. Some of the park's best features include Cosquer Cave, Calanque de Morgiou, Calanque de Sugiton, Calanque de Sormiou, Calanque de Port-Miou and many more.
This vast area of parkland is situated 24km east of Marseilles between the village of Gémenos and Mount Sainte-Baume, at the base of a small wooded valley. It offers many lovely walks. Take one of its many paths through crowds of beech, ash, spruce and maple trees and encounter the cool, refreshing atmosphere around the waterfall. After about twenty minutes walking, you'll come across an abbey dating back to the 12th century, which was home to a community of Cistercian monks. Concerts of religious music are now held here throughout the summer, and they're free!
"I was born in the village of Aubagne, beneath the Garlaban mountain scattered with goats, at the time of the last goatherds. Garlaban, a towering mass of blue-grey rock that stands on the edge of Plan d'Aigle, an immense rocky plateau dominating the green valley of the Huveanne." These are the opening lines of La Gloire de mon Père (My Father's Glory), the charming novel by writer/film-maker Marcel Pagnol, which epitomises the spirit of this rocky fortress, soaring over the town of Aubagne at an altitude of 600m. Indeed, this designated nature reserve has provided the scenic backdrop to several of Pagnol's films; nature's own film set that can still be visited today. Pathways swathed in the aromas of rosemary and thyme criss-cross the mountain slopes on the eastern outskirts of Marseilles. The Tourist Information Office in Aubagne organises themed walks which give you the chance to uncover and discover this everlasting heritage.
This cultural center is situated just west of Aix-en-Provence's historic city center. It features a variety of cultural programs that aim to empower youths and adults alike in expressing themselves, discovering their abilities, and becoming active, responsible citizens. Classes are taught in music, dance, theater, and other arts, while occasional concerts and exhibitions take place to showcase the talents and works of students.
Jardin Botanique E.M. Heckel is a botanical garden situated in the very heart of the city of Marseille in France. It is known for its extensive display of more than 3,500 species of plants, with the most notable highlights being the Chinese garden, palm garden, Japanese garden, Mediterranean garden and the unique greenhouse devoted entirely to plants of South Africa. This site is open from Tuesday to Sunday. For more information pertaining to the opening timings, kindly contact +33 8 9923 5991.