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Access to the Calanques National Park is being controlled once again this summer due to damage to the ecosystem caused by the burgeoning numbers of visitors, and due to increasing fire risks.  The Calanque de Sugiton which used to attract up to 2,500 people a day is, being limited to 400 entries. Pre-booking one of the free passes is via the new app.  Details here: https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/discover-marseille/nature/the-calanques-of-marseille/how-to-access-the-calanques/access-rules-to-the-calanques/

This regulation is in force 1 July – 3 September. Reservations are all cancelled by email in case of fire risk.

A white-knuckle ride to Sormiou…but you usually need a restaurant reservation

Access roads to Morgiou, Sormiou and Callelongue are closed to traffic daily 7 – 19:00 hrs until 19 May, then weekends and jours feriés, and daily over the summer period, 1 June – 1 October inclusive. But you can also visit Sormiou by car if you have a reservation to eat at Le Chateau, the only restaurant down by the sea.  Your reg no is checked at the barrier and then you can drive down the vertiginous narrow road with the most astounding views of the Mediterraean.  After eating you can have a paddle on the sandy beach and admire the ‘cabanons’ that were so popular with weekending Marseille families.  (You can read a review of ‘Le Cabanon’ in my Books section – it gives a splendid overview of these traditional communities).

One visitor last month was welcome as it came in by sea. It was a rorqual, the second largest whale, which was spotted at the entry to the calanque d’En Vau by agents of the Calanques National Park.

They said that the whale wasn’t either stressed or disorientated, and they watched it for 90 minutes hunting for food.

They stressed that we should all keep at least 100m away from whales.

The national park which comprises 8,500 hectares of land and 43,500 hectares of sea was established in 2012.  Lots of info, in English, here: http://www.calanques-parcnational.fr/en/visitor-strategy