Nestled between steep cliffs, the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of the Port-Miou calanque stretch deep into the limestone massif for nearly 1.5 km, making it the longest of all the calanques.

An emblematic site of the Calanques National Park, it lies just a stone’s throw from Cassis. Easily accessible, it is a favorite spot for visitors and a starting point for nature lovers eager to venture along the rugged paths leading to wilder calanques, such as Port-Pin or En-Vau. Its fame stems not only from its natural beauty but also from its unique human history.

A Marina Nestled in the Rock

Now converted into a marina, its shores are lined with numerous boats, neatly moored under the protection of the calanque’s natural shelter. The name Port-Miou, which means "Best Port", recalls the refuge this inlet once offered sailors, shielded from the fierce Mistral wind and dangerous easterly gales. For centuries, it has been a safe haven for seafarers battling the storms.

Limestone Quarries

Yet Port-Miou is also a calanque marked by human activity. As early as antiquity, its limestone was quarried to pave the port of Massilia and to carve early Christian sarcophagi, still visible today at Saint-Victor Abbey in Marseille. This highly prized, luminous white stone was even exported as far as Port Said in the 19th century, contributing to the construction of the Suez Canal.

For nearly three-quarters of a century, between 6 and 7 million tons of rock were extracted from its sides, leaving lasting scars on the landscape until the quarries closed in 1981. Once considered the most beautiful, Port-Miou now bears the marks of industrial exploitation—silent witnesses of a time when industry still shaped these wild places.

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The Calanque of Port Miou is an essential part of the local heritage, attracting visitors year-round who come to immerse themselves in the site’s raw beauty and layered history.