Marseille's Calanques aboard Bruine Beer

From the Old Port of Marseille, we set course for the southern harbor, heading toward the gateway to the Calanques. Along the way, we pass through the spectacular Baie des Singes, a natural passage between Île Maïre and Cap Croisette, where the sea and wind shape a magnificent landscape.

Stretching over more than 20 km of coastline between Marseille and Cassis, the Calanques offer a unique landscape: limestone cliffs, hidden coves, and small fishing ports with traditional cabins. A true natural sanctuary, this massif became a National Park in 2012, to which the Bruine Beer has privileged access.

Under sail, we glide past these wonders like the first explorers in search of new horizons. Our routes take us to exceptional sites: the mysterious Blue Grotto, the Capelan Cave, and of course the legendary Cosquer Cave (now inaccessible).

The Calanques tell a thousand-year-old story, shaped by erosion and the accumulation of marine sediments that sculpted this spectacular landscape. Here, every cliff, every cove is a fragment of the past, frozen in the rock, and an invitation to escape

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The Calanques we sail along

Between the wild coves of the national park and the turquoise waters of the Frioul archipelago, the Marseille coastline conceals some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Mediterranean. Bruine Beer is a sailboat driven by the sea breeze, giving access to sites unreachable on foot: the dizzying cliffs ofEn-Vau, the secret calanques ofRiou Island, the unspoiled coves of the Côte Bleue.

List of Marseille's calanques

Calanques National Park - from West to East
Calanque de Callelongue, Calanque de la Mounine, Calanque de Marseilleveyre, Calanque de Podestat, Calanque de l'Escu, Calanque de Sormiou, Calanque de la Triperie, Calanque de Morgiou, Calanque de Sugiton, Calanque du Devenson, Calanque de l'Oule, Calanque d'En-Vau, Calanque de Port-Pin, Calanque de Port-Miou.
A playground of more than 20 calanques, just between Callelongue and Cassis.

Frioul Archipelago
Île Pomègues, Île Ratonneau, Île If (sailing past only - no stop at the Château d'If), Île Tiboulen du Frioul.

Côte Bleue
Calanque de Niolon, Calanque du Rove, Calanque de la Vesse, Anse de Méjean, Calanque de Laurons.

The Bay of Marseille and the Frioul Islands

“Marseille, to tell the truth, can only truly be loved this way—arriving by sea. (…) When the harbor opens its arms to you, then, and only then, do you grasp the eternal meaning of this city. Hospitality.”
— Jean-Claude Izzo

At the gates of the Phocaean city, the Frioul islands stand tall, four limestone blocks battered by the mistral, witnesses to a rich maritime history. In times past, Pomègues and Ratonneau used to receive ships arriving from Africa and Asia for quarantine.
Further on, the Château d'If, an imposing fortress built by François I, watches over Degaby Island, immortalized by Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo.

From l’Estaque to Les Goudes, passing through the Frioul Archipelago, Bruine Beer invites you to discover Marseille at its finest: from the sea.

Links about Marseille and its Harbor – Sources from Wikipedia: The Frioul Archipelago, Pomègues Island, Ratonneau Island, Château d’If, L’Estaque, Vallon des Auffes, Les Goudes.

The half-day Frioul optionSunset and boat aperitif at the Frioul

The Riou Archipelago

From the sea, a grandiose panorama unfolds before us: from the Calanques , wild and unspoiled, of theisland of Maïre to the majestic Bec de l'Aigle.

Aboard Bruine Beer, we sail toward these unspoiled landscapes, accessible only by boat.

We drop anchor in privileged moorings such as the calanque de Monasterio, de Fontagne or de Pouars, in the heart of a nature reserve where marine life thrives. Thanks to the no-take zones established by the Calanques National Park, fish and marine species offers a totally fascinating underwater spectacle.

The Riou Archipelago, also known as the Island of Birds, is a unique refuge in the Mediterranean. Rare species such as the Scopoli’s shearwater, the Yelkouan shearwater, and the storm petrel nest here, in an environment listed as part of Europe’s natural heritage.

But these islands are not only an ecological treasure—they are also the cradle of underwater archaeology. As early as 1952, Commander Jacques Cousteau and Professor Fernand Benoît carried out pioneering excavations here, uncovering ancient shipwrecks and their precious cargoes of amphorae—evidence of maritime trade routes dating back over 2,000 years.

Bruine Beer takes you in the footsteps of a unique ecosystem and its timeless stories

From the Riou islands to the Calanques by boat

The Calanques of the Blue Coast

To the west of Marseille, the Côte Bleue stretches from L’Estaque to La Couronne, bordered by shimmering waters that gave it its name. Sheltered from the Mistral, this unspoiled coastline offers a preserved alternative to the famous calanques of Marseille and Cassis.

Less crowded but just as beloved by the locals, the beaches and calanques of the Côte Bleue are a paradise for divers and nature lovers. Every year, the oursinades bring together food enthusiasts to enjoy the sea’s treasures in a warm, festive atmosphere.

With limited access by land, the sea remains the best way to explore this authentic coastline. Aboard the Bruine Beer, we sail past the picturesque little ports of La Vesse, Niolon, Méjean, Figuières, and La Redonne—true havens of peace where time seems to stand still. Further on, from Carry-le-Rouet to La Couronne, the coastline softens and reveals wide stretches of golden sandy beaches, perfect for a sunny stopover.

Sailing along the Côte Bleue means discovering another side of Marseille—between hidden coves, charming villages, and breathtaking views of the Marseille harbor and the Frioul Archipelago.

Visiting the Côte Bleue by boat