“Maïre” It sounds like a whispered secret. This island rests just south-southwest of Marseille. It is near Cap Croisette and the Goudes district at the Calanques’ western edge. Maïre is part of Marseille’s territory in the 8th arrondissement.
Maïre stretches 990 meters east to west. It measures 540 meters north to south. The island’s highest point is an unnamed summit. It rises 141 meters above sea level. This peak sits just west of the 138-meter-high Gabians peak.
No one lives on Maïre. Aside from the gulls called gabians animal life is minimal. Ruins hint at mineral exploitation long ago. Around the island are crumbling observation posts. They remind us of its strategic position. It overlooks the bay of Marseille. It guards the Gulf of Lion’s east side.
Offshore lies the islet Tiboulen de Maïre. It is nearly as tall as it is wide. A lighthouse stands on its summit. Several other islets named Les Pharillons are nearby. This area is popular for diving.
A sunken ship called Le Liban rests here. This passenger ship sank in 1903. Maïre is separated from the mainland by a narrow passage. It is called Passage des Croisettes. This channel is about 80 meters wide.
Strong currents and rough waves make it risky. These conditions arise during windy weather. Swimming from Cap Croisette to Maïre is not advised. Even for experienced swimmers a swim around the island is a challenge. Ships leaving Marseille for the Côte d’Azur pass Maïre and its Tiboulen. They also head toward Corsica or Tunisia. The island served as a film set for Guillaume Sanjorge’s series Draculi and Gandolfi. Maïre is a landmark. It whispers tales of strategy isolation and the sea’s raw beauty.