Cap Croisette

Beneath the imposing gaze of Marseilleveyre, Cap Croisette whispers tales of shipwrecks and ancient mariners. Cap Croisette marks the western gateway to the Calanques National Park. Fishermen once adorned this rocky peninsula with small golden crosses, “crousettes,” praying for safe passage through the treacherous waters. These tiny emblems of hope gave Cap Croisette its name, a poignant reminder of the lives intertwined with this dramatic landscape. Cap Croisette isn’t just a geographical landmark. It’s a cultural touchstone, a place where the city meets the wild beauty of the Calanques. The massif of Marseilleveyre looms 430 meters above, casting a watchful eye over the small port and diving center nestled below. From here, boats depart to explore the wonders of the Riou archipelago, a scattering of islands just offshore. Among these is Maïre Island, separated from Cap Croisette by a narrow, fast-flowing channel. This passage, just 80 meters wide, is the most direct route between Marseille’s Vieux Port and the heart of the Calanques. It’s a maritime highway for fishing boats and tourist vessels, while larger ships must navigate around Maïre Island and its smaller companion, Tiboulen de Maïre, nicknamed Turtle Island. The waters around Cap Croisette hide secrets beneath the surface. Divers explore the vibrant seabed, drawn by the allure of the coral cave and the ghostly wreck of the Liban, a steamship that met its fate in 1903. Cap Croisette also offers glimpses into the past. Remnants of the 1960s “téléphérique sous-marin,” a sort of underwater cable car that once connected Les Goudes to Callelongue, can still be seen near the calanque of Callelongue. A plaque near the concrete cross at the passage des Croisettes commemorates the victims of the Liban shipwreck, a somber echo of the ephemeral “crousettes” of old. And then there’s the Baie des Singes, Monkey Bay. One legend claims the name comes from a monkey-shaped profile of Maïre Island, viewed from a particular angle within the bay. Another, more intriguing tale whispers of smuggling activities, and the locals’ “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” approach. Cap Croisette’s history is etched in the very rocks, a blend of natural beauty and human endeavor.