“Imagine standing here in 1813.” Imagine the scene unfolding right before your eyes here at Cap Morgiou. The English fleet is on the horizon. This is Cap Morgiou. It is a cape in France. You are in the 9th arrondissement of Marseille. You are in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. This is part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
Cap Morgiou is in the Calanques massif. It is near the Calanque de la Triperie. This calanque houses the Grotte Cosquer.
Standing at the edge of Cap Morgiou. Take in the view. It offers a prime vantage point. You look out over the Grande Candelle massif. See its jagged coastline with its many creeks.
Let’s step back in time. Stone ruins of a small fort are visible. They lie between the Col du Renard and the cape’s edge. Batteries and storage buildings are among them. These were built in 1813. They were to defend against the English fleet. Cannons and cannonballs have been found near the fort or in the sea. They are evidence of battles fought here.
The cape’s tip plunges into the sea. You can reach it via two hiking trails. One starts from the Calanque de Morgiou. Follow the black trail. It is an easy walk. The other starts from the Col des Baumettes. Follow the blue trail. It is longer and steeper.
Not far from here, in the Calanque de Morgiou, is a small village. Cabanons provide shelter. A community of Marseilles residents lives here. It has a small fishing port. It is still active. Two jetties protect it. You will also find a bar and restaurant. The Calanque de Morgiou is in the Baumettes district. It is part of the 9th arrondissement of Marseille.
Motor vehicles are prohibited. Access is limited to walkers and hikers. Remember, camping and bivouacking are not allowed.
The oldest evidence of settlement dates back 28,000 years. This is the age of the Cosquer Cave. It is located in the Calanque de la Triperie, near Cap Morgiou.
In 1452, King René sold the calanque and madrague to the fishermen of Saint Jean. The price was 1,200 florins.
In November 1622, King Louis XIII visited. The fishermen organized a traditional tuna fishing event. It left behind a staircase carved into the rock. The steps were shaped to aid the king’s fishing. He was armed with a vermeil trident. Crowds gathered to watch. They cheered every time he pulled a fish from the water.
Around 1810, the Fortin du Cap Morgiou was built. It protected the south of the harbor of Marseille. Other batteries and forts were built. They date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. They were intended to prevent invasions.
At the Col du Renard, at the end of Cap Morgiou, are the remains of the Fortin de Morgiou. It features a raised enclosure wall integrated into the rock. In the 19th century, a drawbridge still stood in the breach that allowed passage. Two old military batteries lie below. They saw two English assaults in 1813. Traces of these events can still be seen underwater today. The English threw cannons and carriages into the sea.
Albert Falco recovered some of these cannons. He was the captain of the Calypso. Four more remain under the cape.
Cap Morgiou stands as a testament to Marseille’s rich history. It offers stunning views. It echoes with tales of battles and royal visits. It is a place where nature and history intertwine.