5 must-see places within 1 hour's drive away from Marseille

An essential destination in France, Marseille is also located in the heart of a territory rich in tourist destinations. Discover ten exceptional places to visit, less than 1 hour drive from the Old Port!

Virginie Verdi

Marseille in 3 words

Solar, contradictory, bubbling.

1. The village of Miramas-le-Vieux

Unlike the town of Miramas, which developed in the plain a few kilometres further, the hilltop village of Miramas has changed little over the centuries. Its narrow streets, stone houses and flowery squares transport you to the past. The ruins of the castle and the church of Notre-Dame-de-Beauvezer, which is said to have housed relics of Emperor Constantine 1, testify to its historical importance. From the place of l’Église, you can enjoy a breathtakingview of l’étang de Berre. You can also enjoy an exceptional panorama of the Provençal hills, which leads to Mont Ventoux on a clear day. An interactive trail game, with QR codes to scan, allows you to discover the village as a family during a fun experience. Restaurants and ice-cream parlours ( including the famous ice-cream Quillé) also await you for gourmet and comforting breaks.

2. The village of Le Castellet

One of the most beautiful villages in France stands on top of a hill surrounded by pine forest and vineyards. The medieval streets of LeCastellet are home to an impressive number of shops and restaurants, most of which are open all year round. Autumn is an ideal season to discover this tourist village, far from the (over) frequentation summer. Many shops, craft workshops and art galleries offer a wide range of souvenirs, unique works and original creations. You can also stop at one of the restaurants of the Castellet to enjoy a pancake, a gourmet meal or share a hot or cold drink.

Every Saturday morning, there is a local producer’ market at Le Plan du Castellet, where you can discover local specialities.

3.The Sainte-Baume cave

In the heart of the Sainte-Baume Regional Natural Park, a unique forest in the region extends outside the village of Plan-d’Aups-Sainte-Baume. The trees go up the slope, to the vertiginous cliffs. A path under the foliage leads you to the Grotte Sanctuaire de la Sainte-Baume which protects the relics of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine and is guarded by a Dominican monastery. Although steep, the path that winds up to the cave is designed to be accessible to all ( allow about 45 minutes of walking). You can extend your walk by joining the ridge and following it to the chapel ofSaint-Pilon. A spectacular 360-degree view opens up before you, from the Mediterranean Sea to the peaks of the Alps!

Before you take the car, you can stop at the l’Hostellerie de la Sainte-Baume : a souvenir shop and a café offering sandwiches and pastries await you.

4. Montmajour Abbey

A few kilometers from Arles and at the gates of the Alpilles massif, the abbey of Montmajour stands on a rocky protusion and dominates the surrounding fields. Its buildings tell a story that began more than a thousand years ago, when Benedictine monks came to settle on this site that invites meditation. Your visit will allow you to discover cave rooms, a vertiginous dungeon of theMiddle-Ages, an elegant cloister with its galleries and colonnades, and buildings ofclassical architecture built by the congregation of Saint-Maur in the eighteenth century. Partly ruined, this monumental building recalls the tumults of the French Revolution. Fans of The Walking Dead series will recognize the location: the abbey served as a backdrop for many scenes in the Daryl Dixon spin-off.

You can complete your discovery of the abbey of Montmajour by a visit to Arles. The Roman amphitheatre is certainly the most famous monument, but the ancient city has many other architectural treasures and exceptional museums.

5. The city of Salon-de-Provence

©Salon De Provenceg.seguin Wikimedia|Georges Seguin

The narrow streets of the historic centre of Salon-de-Provence surround the château de l’Empéri, a medieval building whose construction began in the 19th century. The courtyards, the Simples garden and the terrace are open to the public and allow you to admire a monumental architecture. Salon-de-Provence was one of the main places of production od soap in Marseille, and la Savonnerie Marius Fabre perpetuates this centuries-old know-how to the 21st century: you can visit the Museum of soap in Marseille and the various soap shops.

The city is also famous for its markets. Every Wednesday morning, a large weekly market takes place in the streets of the city centre and on the place du Général de Gaulle : you will find many food stalls, clothes, jewellery, linens, handicrafts and many other articles. Other smaller markets also await you every weekend in the historic center: a farmers market on place Morgan on Saturday morning, and a traditional market on place du Général de Gaulle on Sunday morning.