Les Calanques

Les Calanques, located on the outskirts of Marseilles and spanning all the way to Cassis 20km to the east, is one France's most famous natural beauties. The limestone massif is marked by an impressive, jagged Mediterranean coastline with deep green bays and forging promontories which offer not only breathtaking views and swims but also some of the best and most varied sports climbing in France - technical slabs, steep overhangs, single pitch extremes, multi-pitch delights, north, south, east or west facing... Les Calanques have it all.

The Massif is divided into 6 main areas: Marseilleveyre, Les Goudes, Sormiou, Morgiou, Luminy and Gardiole. Put together these host a myriad of different crags and a total of circa 2500 bolted routes and more than 1000 trad routes.

Apart from the Tiragne and Lui d'ai mentioned here, we highly recommend Cret-Saint-Michel (located above Morgiou, 70 routes from 4c to 7a), the aptly named Oasis (15 routes from 6c to 8a), Paroi Jaune (high above Marseille, long technical face climbing 6c - 7c) and the famous south facing Paroi des Toits (60 routes from 5c - 8b, SW facing), both sheltered from the Mistral and ideal for winter climbing. En Vau is a must for its sheer beauty and its multi-pitches high above the sea. And then there’s Grotte de l'ours or Nid d'aigle! Our list of exceptional crags is endless… perhaps the best thing is for you to go there and discover them for yourselves!