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Calanque d’En Vau, France
Some locations are value all of the uphill mountaineering on this planet, and the Calanque d’En Vau is certainly one of them.
If you end up within the south of France and wish to discover one of the crucial lovely websites within the nation, seize some joggers, digicam and swimmers then head to Cassis.
A vibrant fishing port simply east of Marseille, Cassis is the place you’ll be able to start exploring the Parc Nationwide des Calanques.
Okay so first up I do know what you’re possibly considering…what the hell is a calanque? Precisely my ideas once I moved to France! A calanque is a steep walled inlet discovered alongside the Mediterranean coast and is understood for white rocky cliffs descending to clear teal seas. The surroundings is a dramatic palette of blues, greens and whites all mixing collectively underneath the sunny skies of Provence.
Between Marseille and Cassis you’ll discover a 20km shoreline residence to quite a few calanques that may solely be explored by foot or by sea. Essentially the most lovely of all of them? Calanque d’En Vau.
Climbing to Calanque d’En Vau takes roughly two hours from Cassis Harbour, or alternatively I strongly counsel you start at Port Miou. There’s a big out of doors automobile park right here the place you’ll be able to pay 8euro and depart your automobile for the day whilst you discover the calanques. It means an entire lot much less strolling and also you skip any pointless strolling down streets, you’ll kick issues off proper from the waterfront and minimize about an hour from the hike.
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Right here’s a map that reveals the mountaineering path – please observe this map reveals the path to the seaside at Calanque d’En Vau, for those who’re hoping to seize the views from above, stick with the coastal path from Calaque de Port Pin…I’ve defined extra intimately beneath.
Port Miou to Calanque de Port Pin
From Port Miou the trail leads alongside the lengthy and thin harbour stuffed with crusing and pace boats. When you hit the slight incline on the finish of a protracted flat part, that’s the place the mountaineering actually begins.
The mountaineering path makes use of a color coded system (as seen within the picture above) and also you’ll see painted stripes on rocks that allow you to know you’re not off course.
From Port Miou observe the white and crimson stripes.
If it’s a heat day you’ll begin second guessing your resolution to do the hike when you’ve made it to the highest of the primary hill…or not less than I did! The trail begins to get somewhat hazardy with slippery stones and an uneven monitor however for those who’re not susceptible to tripping over, it’s completely positive.
About 20-30minutes into the hike you’ll arrive to the clear waters of Calanque de Port Pin, a welcome little cove that’s a superb place to take a break. Fashionable in the course of the summer season months, right here you’ll discover individuals picnicking, sunbathing and swimming, greater than possible perched from the seaside all the way in which alongside the rocky shores.
Calanque of Port Pin to Calanque of En Vau
When you’ve caught your breath there’s two choices to get to Calanque d’En Vau. You possibly can proceed on the white and crimson path which is a extra direct route straight up by the bushland, or you’ll be able to observe the blue route. Extra scenic but somewhat longer, the blue monitor hugs the shoreline making it rather more motivating when you begin heading uphill. My suggestion is to move straight up on the white and crimson monitor then wander again slowly alongside the coast on the blue path!
For those who do take the direct route, when you arrive on the high you’ll most likely discover it’s somewhat complicated. It seems like you ought to be wanting down over the calanque nevertheless you’re looking to a horizon of extra rocks and bushes so far as you’ll be able to see. Once more, right here it’s roughly a fork within the monitor and also you’ll have two choices.
Head left for the magnificent views wanting down over the Calanque d’En Vau, or stroll proper and make your manner down into the calanque for those who’re eager to go for a swim and discover from the ocean.
It’s roughly 30-45mins to get down into the calanque and clearly loads longer to climb again up…by the way in which I’m purely judging these mountaineering instances on my private pace which is a greatest common. I’m no pace walker that’s been confirmed time and again!
The place to get the Lovely View of Calanque d’En Vau?
Head for the ocean and also you’ll begin to witness the glimmering water beneath you. For those who’ve taken the inland route from Calanque de Port Pin, flip left on the high and wander alongside the cliff edge till the sweetness reveals itself.
There’s quite a few pure rocky platforms to take a seat on and gaze down into the calanque beneath. It’s an excellent place to take a break and have a picnic, we ended up discovering an enormous flat rock that leant out from the cliff edge which offered essentially the most unimaginable view for lunch!
Climbing Time: Permit as much as three hours to do the return hike and somewhat bit extra if you wish to take in the ocean and leap within the vibrant waters for a dip.
Relying in your degree of health and the temperature on the day you hike, it’s positively attainable to do the hike quicker. If although you intend on photographing the calanque give your self loads of time as a result of it’s significantly photogenic and it’s somewhat exhausting to stroll away from.
The very best vantage factors of Calanque d’En Vau are maked with a crimson x. The monitor weaves somewhat so it’s exhausting to pinpoint precisely nevertheless wherever alongside this aspect of the calanque will supply a view all the way down to the ocean beneath. The cliff reverse could be very well-liked with rock climbers including an additional topic to {photograph}!
Finest time for Images:
It’s necessary to begin your hike early as a result of as soon as the afternoon begins shadows begin to creep over the calanque. I like to recommend beginning out round 10am from Port Miou which is able to imply you arrive to Calanque d’En Vau at round 11am, supplying you with loads of time to seize all the colors with a powerful overhead daylight.
From above the ocean will begin to sparkle within the afternoon mild so you should definitely take a polariser for those who’re hoping to minimise any undesirable glare.
The photographs on this put up have been taken utilizing a light-weight (nice for mountaineering!) Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II digicam paired with my M.Zuiko 12-40mm PRO 2.8 lens and I didn’t choose to make use of a polariser.
Finest time of yr to go to:
The Parc Nationwide des Calanques are greatest explored between October and June. For those who’re hoping to swim positively plan your journey for both early October or Could and June when the ocean can be heat sufficient for a dip.
Over the summer season months of July to September, the mountaineering tracks to the calanques could also be closed as a result of danger of fireside relying on the situations and warmth. For those who’re planning on visiting any of the opposite calanques accessible by highway, you may additionally discover there are restrictions in place limiting what number of automobiles are allowed, or that the roads are closed to all visitors.
For those who occur to be visiting throughout summer season there are in fact alternate options, it means much less strolling and a distinct perspective! You possibly can take a ship from Cassis or Marseille and arrive to the calanques by sea. Whereas it’s not attainable to get off the boats, you’ll nonetheless see the spectacular and steep cliffs rising from the ocean.
To seek out out extra about visiting the calanques by boat you’ll be able to go to the Marseille Tourism web site right here.
Right here’s a set of images from our hike final weekend. As I discussed above, we began the hike at 10am and I used to be capturing these photos from roughly 11am-2pm as a result of I couldn’t tear myself away from the views….should. preserve. clicking.
For those who’d prefer to share this port or save for later, right here’s a pin for Pinterest ↓
Hiya! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as an expert journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this web site is from my private expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful in your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences world wide.
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