Clifftop road above towering sea cliffs
The Route des Crêtes traces the top of one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs. Cap Canaille lifts the road 394 metres (that’s 1,293 feet) sheer above the Mediterranean, filling your car’s windows with views that can only be described as breathtaking.
The bright midday sun bleaches the limestone white against deep blue water. By late afternoon, the whole cliff face turns amber, and the sea below shifts from turquoise to something like ink. The road itself is narrow and winding, so take it slowly – this is not the place to be looking at a map.
Pull over at the marked viewpoints: the panorama from Falaises de Cassis takes in Cassis, the Calanques stretching west, and, on a clear day, the islands beyond Marseille. The whole drive takes around 45 minutes end to end, though leave an hour and a half so you have time to linger.
View French Riviera (Côte d'Azur)
