a seaside weekend near marseille, in niolon
Twenty minutes from Saint-Charles by train, the city disappears. What remains: the calanque, the terrace, and two days ahead of you.
why niolon for a weekend?
No endless drive: the Côte Bleue train drops you 300 m from the house. No compulsory programme: the swimming is below, the restaurants sit above the water, the trail starts from the village. A weekend here does not fill up; it empties out.
two days, no rush
saturday
Arrive late morning, shopping done before coming down. Swim off the harbour rocks, lunch at the water's edge, nap on the terrace. In the evening, pétanque facing the bay and dinner in the village.
sunday
Coffee in the sun, a walk to the Vesse calanque or the Niolon fort. One last swim, a quiet lunch, the afternoon train home.
Sea weekend · the plan
48 HOURS, BY THE CLOCK.
- Friday18:47The train at Saint-Charles, platform B. Window seat on the right, sea side.
- 19:09Niolon station. 300 m downhill, the keys in the box.
- 20:30Aperitif on the terrace.the rosé travelled on the train
- Saturday9:00Coffee at the parapet, glassy sea.
- 10:00La Vesse along the trail, a swim before the crowd.
- Sunday10:00The GR51 towards l'Erevine, picnic in the rocks.
- 17:12The train home.watching the sea all the way to l’Estaque
Times shown as an example, they vary by season. Check the day's timetable before you set off.
the house for this weekend
Calanca is rented whole: 3 bedrooms, 2 south-facing terraces, an equipped kitchen. For two, the house breathes; for eight, it hosts. Two-night minimum stay.
See the housepractical questions
Can we come without a car?
Yes. The Côte Bleue train from Marseille Saint-Charles, Niolon stop, about 20 minutes. The station is 300 m from the house.
Should we book the village restaurants?
Yes, especially at weekends: two to three days ahead in season. Both tables are small.
Is the sea really reachable on foot?
Swimming in the calanque is a 5-minute walk from the house.