NIOLON,
THE VILLAGE
AT THE END.
The road stops here. You arrive by train or by sea, and you stay.
the calanque does the rest
Morning
TRAIL AND SWIM
The GR51 trail starts from the village. L'Erevine is a 40-minute walk, white rock and turquoise water. Back along the same path, into the light.
Midday
THE HARBOUR
Fish soup, grilled fish, pointu boats at anchor. Two restaurants, no more. You eat facing the bay.
Afternoon
THE COASTAL TRAIN
Marseille Saint-Charles in 20 minutes, or Carry-le-Rouet the other way. The line hugs the cliff: sit by the right-hand window.
a fishing hamlet in an inhabited calanque
Niolon is a calanque village suspended between cliff and water: a handful of cabanons, a small fishing harbour, a well-known diving centre, and the silence of the off-season. Marseille locals have been coming here for generations. There is no hotel, and that is precisely what makes the place rare.
the côte bleue: between marseille and the calanques
From L'Estaque to Martigues, the Côte Bleue lines up coves, railway viaducts and pine woods above turquoise water, protected by the Marine Park. It is Marseille's discreet coastline: more local, more real. The coastal train runs its whole length, viaduct after viaduct.
how to reach niolon
By train: the Côte Bleue line from Marseille Saint-Charles, Niolon stop, about 20 minutes; the station is 300 m from the house. By car: 25 to 30 minutes from Marseille, free parking at the entrance to the village.
THE CÔTE BLEUE, NOT THE CÔTE D'AZUR.
25 kilometres of coastline between Marseille and Martigues. No hotels in Niolon, and far fewer people than Les Goudes. The precise addresses are in the travel guide, handed over on arrival.
go further
the village of niolon
Cabanons, fishing harbour, swimming in the calanque: Niolon in detail.
the côte bleue
Calanques, the Marine Park, the coastal train: Marseille's discreet coastline.
the local guide
Beaches, hikes, restaurants: the addresses we give our guests.
diving in niolon
The UCPA, try dives, the sites by level and snorkelling from the calanque.