Calanque d’en Vau

Calanque d’en Vau is located south of the city of Marseille and is certainly one of the most beautiful calanques on the stretch of coastline that leads from Cassis to the capital of the Côte d’Azur region Côte d’Azur

The cove is part of the territory of the Parc National des Calanques, an entity dedicated to the protection of the ecosystem of this area rich in natural beauty.
The cove is roughly 700 meters long and shares the same marine access with another cove, positioned to its right: the Calanque de Port Pin.
The calanque d’en Vau is surrounded by high cliffs adorned with Mediterranean scrub and is well sheltered from northeast and southerly winds. The effect of the mistral wind-where it blows very strong-can prove problematic, however, because it can easily turn the calanque into a wind “channel.”

The cove, as part of a protected area, is subject to strict regulations, moderating access and permitted activities within its waters. Within the bay d’en Vau, anchoring is prohibited, except in the northeast section of the bay, up to a maximum limit of 200 meters from the beach. The area is delimited by a row of yellow buoys.
In any case, the entry of boats larger than 20 meters is prohibited because of the limited space. Smaller boats, on the other hand, can pass through the gully, but motor boats are prohibited from approaching more than 50 meters from the shore with their engines running.

The unique, small beach is located at the bottom of the gully, with a very clear pebble bottom. It is surrounded by towering pine trees and verdant Mediterranean scrub, which create an incredible contrast to the crystal-clear water with turquoise reflections
It is advisable to frequent it in the early part of the day, because the direct light disappears quickly due to the height of the cliffs surrounding the gully.

Access by land is not particularly easy. There are two parking lots for cars, one to the north of the bay, the other to the northeast: two footpaths can be followed from here, but you have to calculate at least a 45-minute walk.
The beach offers no services or commercial activities, and to find a refreshment point you have to push on toward the Calanque de Port Miou.
The bay is also popular with scuba diving enthusiasts because of the richness of its seabed.
The paths surrounded by nature, overlooking the cliffs, will delight hikers.

The Calanque d’en Vau is definitely a must-see for anyone who wants to navigate the Marseille creeks