La Ciotat and Cassis – The Cote d’Azur at it most magnificent
A visit to the Cote d’Azur simply wouldn’t be complete without discovering the seaside towns of La Ciotat and Cassis. These exquisite towns are nestled fairly close to one another with all that separates them being one the highest maritime cliffs in Europe.
The mighty Cap Canaille, towers a shade under 1300 feet above the Mediterranean Sea.
La Ciotat has six kilometres of silver, sandy beaches, whilst the coastline of Cassis is characterised by huge indented rocky coves. Due to the close proximity of these two lovely seaside resorts to the grand city of Marseilles, many inhabitants of France’s second city take refuge here away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life.
Tourists flock upon the towns in the summertime, as would be expected in one of the most beautiful locations on the Cote d’Azur.
In the late 19th century history was made in La Ciotat by the Lumiere brothers, who made the world’s first motion picture of a train in the local train station. Indeed this 50 second-long movie shook the whole world and was titled simply; “A Train Arriving at the Ciotat Station.”
The world’s oldest cinema is still in operation in the town. The Eden Theatre in La Ciotat is where astonished members of the public witnessed images of a train coming straight towards them more than 100 years ago!
In between La Ciotat and Cassis there are 360 kilometres of well marked trails where one can take a leisurely stroll whilst enjoying a magnificent seascape and landscape at the same time. Hiking in these scenically diverse Mediterranean trails truly adds another dimension to your holiday and makes for strong and meaningful memories.
The reputation of these resorts as places of beauty is fully justified and if you find yourself in striking distance, then a visit is a must. If you enjoy walking you could take to the cliff paths or even go for a drive over the high road, which spectacularly connects the two resorts. There are plenty of places to stop off and drink in the view, and what a view it is.
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