Cassis

“Anyone who has seen Paris, but hasn’t seen Cassis, hasn’t seen anything” 

These words written by Frédéric Mistral, the Nobel prize-winner for literature, are all it takes to describe the incredible attraction that Cassis exerts on everyone who goes there. This little fishing harbour, nestling between two exceptional natural sites (the famous Massif des Calanques and the majestic Cap Canaille) offers its visitors a concentrate of Provence and the Mediterranean.

Cassis has a rich history, beginning from the ancient settlements of the Ligures in 500 – 600 BC, who built a fortified construction called Oppidum Baou Redoun here. Since the Roman times, Cassis has been a part of maritime trade routes with North Africa and the Middle East. In Antiquity, Cassis became famous for the stone of Cassis, which had been quarried here.

Since the twentieth century, Cassis has been well-known for its rosé and white wine. Cassis was one of the first three vineyards, which obtained the appellation d’origine contrôlée – ‘controlled destination of origin’ French certification, introduced in 1936. Nowadays, Cassis is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.

Cassis is situated in the center of an area of an outstanding natural beauty. The most beautiful among 20 calanques of the Calanques National Park are located near Cassis.

Views of Cassis are also great from the sea. Various sea tours can be taken from the Cassis Old Port.

We offer two tours to Cassis and its neighborhoods:

• Route to the Sun: Cassis – Cap Canaille – La Ciotat
• Calanque de Port Miou, Cassis