Pastel fishing port beside the Calanques
Cassis is a small fishing port tucked between limestone cliffs and a sparkling Mediterranean bay. The town manages to be spectacular without making a fuss about it.
The harbour is the heart of the village. Pastel-coloured houses line the waterfront, fishing boats and small yachts rock gently in the water, and the terraces of cafés and restaurants spill out along the quayside.
Above the old town, a medieval castle (now an upscale hotel) watches over everything from a rocky promontory. Below it, the lanes of the village are shaded, cobbled and full of life. The market runs on Wednesday and Friday mornings, and it’s worth building your morning around.
Or, build your day around a dip in the Med. You could walk along the Plage de la Grande Mer, right by the town centre, or a short walk will lead you to Plage du Bestouan. It’s a bit more rocky, and a bit more secluded.
Cassis is also famous for its wine – a crisp white that’s made in the vineyards that cling to the hillsides just above the town. It’s one of France’s smallest AOC appellations and one of its most distinctive. A glass on a harbour terrace is essentially compulsory.
View French Riviera (Côte d'Azur)
