The Calanque de Callelongue and its small fishing port
It is the first calanque in the Marseilleveyre massif. It is located at the end of the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, after the Poointe Rouge Port and the village Les Goudes. For the people of Marseille, it is already the "end of the world". Its name comes from the Provençal "Cala lònga" which means "Great cove". It marks the beginning of the Calanques National Park. This impasse was once the location of a chemical factory that has now given way to a small fishing port. The fishermen's huts are picturesque and make the charm of this Marseille calanque which unfortunately does not have a beach.
To swim, you will have to access the sea through the rocks. A restaurant, very popular with locals, will welcome you to taste dishes made with freshly caught fish. Callelongue is considered as the entrance to the "wild" part of the Calanques massif. It is in particular the starting point for paths leading to other creeks that are less easily accessible. Moreover, access to the calanque is quite easy with its parking nearby and the bus n°20 which serves the village. To prepare your hike, you will find a drinking water fountain in the village to make sure you have enough water with you for your hikes, especially in summer when it can be very warm. Here, there seems to have been a pause in life and time to give way to calm, to silence between rocks and sea. The perfect place to admire a superb sunset with the islands of Marseille in the background. Sublime! It is also a very beautiful place to dive.
Did you know that in the 1960s, a telescaphe, a kind of hybrid between a cable car and a diving suit, was installed between Les Goudes and Calanque de Callelongue. It made it possible to discover the seabed via a sealed cabin that could hold up to 6 people. This scheme lasted only one year due to the high costs involved. You can still see the remains of the mechanical devices used to move the cabins today.
