Cassis
An intimate fishing village amid the ritz of the Riviera
BY JENNIFER LADONNE
Though fishermen still frequent this picturesque port to deliver the daily catch, many of the departing vessels are pleasure boats headed for the calanques -- hidden inlets set between sheer cliffs and clear blue water that conceal some of southern France's loveliest beaches.
Framed by the peaks of the Parc National des Calanques, the sheltered bay of Cassis's own pebbly shore hosts languid Mediterranean afternoons of lounging on the beach or sampling local rosé at seaside cafés.
Three nearby inlets -- Calanque d'En-Vau, Calanque de Port Pin, Calanque de Port-Miou -- can be reached by kayak or by a rigorous hike on rocky paths. The prettiest, Calanque d'En-Vau, is a challenging two-hour hike.
Did you know?
Stone from Cassis's quarries helped build ancient harbors in Alexandria and Piraeus.
