La Ciotat
Welcome to La Ciotat!
I hope you find my guidebook useful and interesting..........
The Old Town is where all the action is for an evening, whether you want a coffee, a wine, dinner, a stroll: or just to watch the world go by.
The nicest way to get to the old town is to walk through the Parc Domain De La Tour, along Avenue De La Mediterrenee and then right along the Voie Douce...... a lovely off road walk/cycle way. Once at the end of the Voie Douce, just follow your nose, and or the noise of the chinking of wine glasses.
The fastest way to get to the old town:
Straight down the road you see from the terrace D40B (Av Emile Bodin which turns into Av Ernest Subilia). At the coast- its left to the beaches, right to the old town.
191 locals recommend
La Ciotat
The Old Town is where all the action is for an evening, whether you want a coffee, a wine, dinner, a stroll: or just to watch the world go by.
The nicest way to get to the old town is to walk through the Parc Domain De La Tour, along Avenue De La Mediterrenee and then right along the Voie Douce...... a lovely off road walk/cycle way. Once at the end of the Voie Douce, just follow your nose, and or the noise of the chinking of wine glasses.
The fastest way to get to the old town:
Straight down the road you see from the terrace D40B (Av Emile Bodin which turns into Av Ernest Subilia). At the coast- its left to the beaches, right to the old town.
this is right in front of our flat!! The large terrace we have overlooks the newly extended park
8 locals recommend
Domaine de la Tour Park
23 Av. Guillaume Dulacthis is right in front of our flat!! The large terrace we have overlooks the newly extended park
Beaches
Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer
nearest alternative beach town. Nice cafes on beach
The beach extension to Sanary sur Mer. Miles of fabulous beach
49 locals recommend
Six Fours Les Plages
3103 Av. Président John KennedyThe beach extension to Sanary sur Mer. Miles of fabulous beach
Superb secluded beach, very special, not to be missed. Cafe and pricey restaurant
67 locals recommend
Figuerolles
Superb secluded beach, very special, not to be missed. Cafe and pricey restaurant
Small pretty beach, great swimming, walk up to the botanical garden too. great high viewpoint, if you want a stroll away from the beach
153 locals recommend
Mugel Park
Calanque du MugelSmall pretty beach, great swimming, walk up to the botanical garden too. great high viewpoint, if you want a stroll away from the beach
Minimum 2 hour hike from the road, well worth the investment, hiking routes closed in summer due to fire risk. Boat trips from La Ciotat old town are good.
Calanque d'En-vau, France
Minimum 2 hour hike from the road, well worth the investment, hiking routes closed in summer due to fire risk. Boat trips from La Ciotat old town are good.
Plage Lumiere is the closest to us........
The nicest way to get to the beaches is to walk through the Parc Domain De La Tour, along Avenue De La Mediterrenee and across the Voie Douce (Lovely walkway) onto a small unmarked path for a very short distance then across onto Ave Du Languedoc.
Out of season you can try for a parking space along the front.
Alternatively you could drive to the end of Ave de la mediterranee and park there for a shorter walk.
35 locals recommend
The Great Beach
Boulevard Beau RivagePlage Lumiere is the closest to us........
The nicest way to get to the beaches is to walk through the Parc Domain De La Tour, along Avenue De La Mediterrenee and across the Voie Douce (Lovely walkway) onto a small unmarked path for a very short distance then across onto Ave Du Languedoc.
Out of season you can try for a parking space along the front.
Alternatively you could drive to the end of Ave de la mediterranee and park there for a shorter walk.
Activity spot
Horses, bikes, walks, beaches, very very flat, a few interesting villages, different landscape completely.
191 locals recommend
Camargue
Horses, bikes, walks, beaches, very very flat, a few interesting villages, different landscape completely.
Sainte-Baume
Walk it cycle it drive it
(15 minute drive) is best avoided unless you want to buy a zillion things to kit out a house, in which case the industrial zone is amazing.
60 locals recommend
Aubagne
(15 minute drive) is best avoided unless you want to buy a zillion things to kit out a house, in which case the industrial zone is amazing.
Mont Faron
Ski lift from Toulon, or walk up.
world class grand prix circuit. karting as well. many spectator events cheap to watch. except the grand prix which is expensive
157 locals recommend
Circuit Paul Ricard
2760 DN8world class grand prix circuit. karting as well. many spectator events cheap to watch. except the grand prix which is expensive
take a boat shuttle from the old town for a lovely time on the 'green island'
89 locals recommend
île Verte
take a boat shuttle from the old town for a lovely time on the 'green island'
Voie Douce, 13600 La Ciotat, France
old railway line, now a lovely walk........
Starting point for lots of hikes and walks and mountain biking......uphill out of Ceyreste at the junction of D3/ D3D.
Le Grand Caunet, 13830 Roquefort-la-Bédoule, France
Starting point for lots of hikes and walks and mountain biking......uphill out of Ceyreste at the junction of D3/ D3D.
City/town information
beach front market on Tuesday morning. we like to drive to La Ciotat Station and take a 12 minute train ride. much less stress than looking for a parking space in high season
16 locals recommend
Bandol Port & Plage
90 Av. du 11 Novembre 1918beach front market on Tuesday morning. we like to drive to La Ciotat Station and take a 12 minute train ride. much less stress than looking for a parking space in high season
Cotignac
pretty provencale town. short pretty walk to a
waterfall
Sightseeing
Sanary
pretty village. market day is wednesday
Chapelle Saint-Côme-et-Saint-Damien de La Cadière-d'Azur
very pretty little place
Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is a really sweet little place,
hidden in a headland after Six- Fours.
For a little adventure, the drive over the mountain is
fun, on the D2816/ Corniche Varoise which takes you
into the hills/ forest.
Mairie de Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer
Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is a really sweet little place,
hidden in a headland after Six- Fours.
For a little adventure, the drive over the mountain is
fun, on the D2816/ Corniche Varoise which takes you
into the hills/ forest.
For walkers, park at Saint Pons. There are numerous
walks uphill from there.
For keen road cyclists the D2 road from Gemenos to
Col d’Espigoullier is an absolute must. Not
recommended for driving because its extremely
twisty and always full of rubberneckers, cyclists and
roaring motorbikers.
Gémenos
For walkers, park at Saint Pons. There are numerous
walks uphill from there.
For keen road cyclists the D2 road from Gemenos to
Col d’Espigoullier is an absolute must. Not
recommended for driving because its extremely
twisty and always full of rubberneckers, cyclists and
roaring motorbikers.
Salon-de-Provence – Gare routière Trophées
Pretty town. I prefer it to Aix
Fabulous island day trip. Wonderful beaches. Great
cycling around the island. 20 minute boat trip from
the coast.
639 locals recommend
Porquerolles
Fabulous island day trip. Wonderful beaches. Great
cycling around the island. 20 minute boat trip from
the coast.
This is the steep and windy scenic road to Cassis.
Frequently closed in high wind. A hairy drive, a
wonderful cycle. There is also a footpath option
which is also great. Walk to Cassis, taxi back after
lunch
Rte des Crêtes, Cassis, France
This is the steep and windy scenic road to Cassis.
Frequently closed in high wind. A hairy drive, a
wonderful cycle. There is also a footpath option
which is also great. Walk to Cassis, taxi back after
lunch
Chapelle of Notre dame Du Mai. A great drive up,
great views. Best ascended by bike!! Wonderful
walking.
118 locals recommend
Notre Dame du Mai
Chemin Notre Dame de Bonne GardeChapelle of Notre dame Du Mai. A great drive up,
great views. Best ascended by bike!! Wonderful
walking.
Essential ascent on a road bike, if thats your thing.
Hairy ascent in a car, best avoided for fear of
motorbikes whizzing round corners. Amazing
walking here though.
Col de l'Espigoulier, 13420 Gémenos, France
Essential ascent on a road bike, if thats your thing.
Hairy ascent in a car, best avoided for fear of
motorbikes whizzing round corners. Amazing
walking here though.
Cassis
you can go up and over the routes des cretes, back
by the 559. close by, famous, beautiful
lovely provencale village. Thursday is market day.
Well worth a visit for a stroll around and some dinner.
Reeser Str. 106, 46446 Emmerich am Rhein, Germany
lovely provencale village. Thursday is market day.
Well worth a visit for a stroll around and some dinner.
A little further afield, but a great day trip by car.
Theres an old Roman amphitheatre loads of history,
and of course lots of pavement cafes, one of which
made famous by Van Gogh (pavement cafe at
midnight)
247 locals recommend
Arles Amphitheatre
1 Rdpt des ArènesA little further afield, but a great day trip by car.
Theres an old Roman amphitheatre loads of history,
and of course lots of pavement cafes, one of which
made famous by Van Gogh (pavement cafe at
midnight)
Le Castellet, 84390 Sault, France
lovely place to visit
Domaine de l'Olivette
519 Chem. de l'Olivettewine tasting
This is the mountain you can see to the far left
looking out of the terrace. A number of good
walking trail heads/mounting biking/VTT.
Mont Caume, 83330 Évenos, France
This is the mountain you can see to the far left
looking out of the terrace. A number of good
walking trail heads/mounting biking/VTT.
To be honest we never found much here. Except for
the water fountain near the traffic lights, very useful
if want to walk or hike from Ceyreste. Take the
second lefts after the traffic lights, heading up to
the camping and the tennis club to find good trail
heads for hiking or VTT Mountain bikes.
Ceyreste Echecs
To be honest we never found much here. Except for
the water fountain near the traffic lights, very useful
if want to walk or hike from Ceyreste. Take the
second lefts after the traffic lights, heading up to
the camping and the tennis club to find good trail
heads for hiking or VTT Mountain bikes.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Taxis
Jean Francis+33 6 85 67 90 58
Marcel+33 6 09 32 76 35
Patrick+33 6 09 33 02 91
Thierry+33 6 50 15 61 56
Taxi for town+33 4 42 83 32 32
Jean-luc +33 6-23-83-01-45
Europcar La Ciotat+33 4 42 18 21
Getting around
Nearby shops
If you look from the terrace of the flat to the extreme right you will just see the centre commercial Ciotat Park. Here you will find- at the front- a fantastic boulangerie: the last shop to the south nearer to the small roundabout. Fresh bread and croissants!
Nearby is an enourmous Carrefore hypermarket. The problem here is not what they don’t have, but actually finding what you want before nightfall. I recommend the Casino supermarket which is just a bit more manageable. There are a couple of restaurants around here too, a bank and a few other shops to get you going.
Don't miss
https://www.aqualand.fr/saint-cyr-sur-mer/
https://www.aqualand.fr/saint-cyr-sur-mer/
Crazy enourmous water park, close by, very noisy. Avoid, unless you have kids who will love it......
Don't miss
www.okcorral.fr
http://www.okcorral.fr
D8N - 13780 Cuges-Les-Pins
Tél. : 04 42 73 80 05
sherif@okcorral.fr
another hectic day out for the kids
Don't miss
CYCLING
www. avcc.fr ........ local cycling club wednesday or saturday morning for a 80km club ride. very friendly- even if you speak no french. check website for start times.
There is a mountain bike VTT section too.
otherwise i have various gpx files i can send
also www.cycleslleba.com to hire bikes/spare etc.
both are very close to the flat.
mountain biking - there are lots of routes, i can give specific advise
Don't miss
La Ciotat old town night market
every evening in august