The Martigues Coastal Trail
As part of GR 51, the coastal trail features natural spaces of ecological diversity and exceptional landscape quality.
This 15-kilometres family walking trail presents a sample of the riches of our heritage, it is punctuated by 44 educational panels giving information on:
• Marine ecology: sea urchins, cetaceans, bivalves, posidonia herbarium...
• Earth ecology: the dune, the effects of sea-sprays, halophile plants...
• Geology: fossils, vasques...
• Archaeology: Roman quarries, shipwrecks...
• History: the landing of the "Duchess of Berry", the wall of the Mediterranean...
• Human activities: the semaphore, the fishing port...
The Martigues Tourist Office offers guided walks.
An exceptional walk by the sea
From the Laurons beach to The beach of Sainte-Croix, calm and serenity await you on picturesque and charming sites where the clear water invites to swimming and diving.
A veritable sea market, the port of Carro offers all the fish of the coastal fishery every morning. This small port has managed to retain its picturesque character and identity. Hotspot for nautical activity, it is a must-see tourist site on the Côte Bleue.
Whether ancient or more recent, the quarries of Carro and La Couronne are all magical places where the traces of the old cups plunge us into the past and where the sun plays with the ochre and orange tones of the famous "La Couronne Stone" often used for buildings of the nearby Marseille city.
The Chapel of Sainte-Croix and its sanctuary are the work of the Benedictine monks of the Priory of Saint-Genest in Martigues. The old Romanesque chapel, close to our campsite, overlooks the sea.
A protected natural setting
The Creek National Park has objectives of protecting the marine environment, managing fishing resources, public information and promotion of experimental actions and research in this area. It is particularly active on the two reserves of the Côte Bleue: Cap Couronne and Carry-le-Rouet.
A few recommendations
Good shoes, a cap, a backpack and above all a water bottle will be very useful, even for a simple walk.
Use marked trails as much as possible, avoid picking plants and capture animals to keep this priceless biotope that you're about to discover. Be sure that a pretty photo marks more the memory than an old dried flower...
Access to forest areas is regulated from June the 1st to September the 30th. Before following your "desires to walk," call 0811 20 13 13. Every day, you'll be able to find out if the site where you want to walk is open all day, open only in the morning, or completely closed.