Cassis

The town of Cassis, often compared to a small Saint-Tropez, is a fishing port nestled in a natural setting where pine forests, ochre and white cliffs, vineyards, and terraced hillsides stretch all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea. Overlooked by the Château de Cassis, dating back to the 8th century, Cassis is protected by two natural monuments: Cap Canaille (the highest sea cliff in Europe), glowing red in the mistral wind, and the white limestone Calanques.

“He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing.”

These words by Frédéric Mistral perfectly capture the powerful attraction Cassis exerts on all who visit: a true concentration of Provence and the Mediterranean. The magic begins along the small winding road leading to the village, weaving between vineyards and pine groves. Its charm fully reveals itself as you wander through narrow streets and squares lined with pastel-colored fishermen’s houses.

Nature surrounds the village on all sides with a preserved belt of vivid colors: to the north, the soft green of the vineyards; to the south, the deep indigo of the open sea; to the east, the ochre tones of Cap Canaille; and to the west, the white cliffs and turquoise waters of the Calanques.

Formed 120 million years ago, these calanques were carved by ancient marine valleys, creating true miniature fjords that sometimes shelter magnificent natural coves. The Calanques also yielded an abundance of the famous “Cassis stone,” which brought worldwide recognition to this small fishing port. Today, it is used to create decorative items and souvenirs.

With 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, the town is renowned for the song of summer cicadas, its turquoise coves, pebble beaches, and above all its vineyards, planted exclusively within the commune of Cassis, which were among the very first to receive Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée status in 1936.