The beaches of the Côte Bleue, from Carro to Carry-le-Rouet

Carro, a beach beside the harbour

At the western end of the Côte Bleue, Carro’s houses face a small fishing harbour. Fishing boats and pleasure craft cluster in front of the village. On the quays, fishermen sell their catch at the market.

A short walk from the harbour, a small beach combines sand and pebbles. Pines line the cove before rocks take over again.

Cap Couronne, the rocky coast facing the open sea

From Carro to La Couronne, the coastal path follows the contours of the shore. The old Baou Tailla quarries have left traces of stone extraction in the rock beside the water.

Around Cap Couronne, pale rock shelves reach into the sea and the lighthouse provides a landmark. The path follows the rocks, then returns to sandy coves and pines.

Le Verdon, a broad sandy bay at La Couronne

Below the village of La Couronne, Le Verdon forms a bay almost 300 metres across. A broad strip of sand stretches between rocks and pines. From above, its whole curve comes into view, with the village houses behind.

In summer, bathers fill the shore and restaurants bring life to the edges of the beach. Le Verdon stands out from the neighbouring coves for its expanse of sand and seaside facilities. Outside the summer season, fewer bathers leave the sweeping curve of sand more visible.

La Couronne-Carro station makes it possible to arrive by train on the Côte Bleue line, then walk to the beach in around twenty minutes.

Sainte-Croix and La Saulce beneath the pines

Further east, La Saulce and Sainte-Croix occupy two neighbouring coves. A rocky headland separates them, but the coastal path continues from one to the other. At La Saulce, the sand opens between two points; cliffs and pines enclose the back of the beach.

At Sainte-Croix, the pine woods and the chapel overlooking the shore give bathing a different setting. Beneath the pines, the sea appears between the branches below the cliffs. The path crosses the beach and continues along the coast: a swim can punctuate the walk, with the coves and Cap Couronne as landmarks.

Carry-le-Rouet, a stop around the harbour

Further east, Carry-le-Rouet harbour opens below the pale façades of the town centre. Pleasure boats fill the basin, while café and restaurant terraces line the quays. After the beaches and pine woods, this stop invites you to linger at a table facing the boats.

Continue towards Niolon or the Camargue

Towards Marseille, the calanque of Niolon reveals another side of the Côte Bleue: a small harbour nestled among hills, overlooked by the railway and old gun batteries. To the west, the vast sands of Piémanson, in the Camargue, contrast with the compact coves of the Martigues coast.