Known for its goat farms, Le Rove is a hidden gem. It sits just northwest of Marseille. Welcome to Le Rove. This charming commune offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty. It is the smallest commune on the Côte Bleue.
Le Rove is proud of its exceptional environment. Its remarkable heritage is a source of pride for the Rovenains. The village has fewer than 5,000 residents. An impressive 87% of its land is a protected site.
Picture this. Back in time, Le Rove almost became a huge seaside resort. It could have housed over 65,000 people. A real estate project funded by the Rothschild bank planned to build a marina. Casinos and hotels were planned too. Artificial dikes would have scarred the hills and coastline. Fortunately local leaders fiercely opposed the project. Georges Rosso led the charge. He made environmental protection his mission. The real estate project failed. Today, only a concrete road remains. It’s called Route Pompidou. It stretches to Fort de Figuerolles through a no man’s land.
Le Rove is world-renowned for its goat breed. Its Brousse du Rove cheese gained AOC status in 2018. This was the first in the Bouches-du-Rhône. Le Rove was a land of shepherds long ago. In the early 20th century, there were 4,000 goats for 400 residents. Now the numbers have shifted.
On the sea side, Le Rove has creeks. On the land side, it has goats. Its coastline runs from Resquiadou to l’Erevine. The calanques of La Vesse and Niolon are stunning. The UCPA diving center is the largest in Europe. Le Rove marks the start of the Côte Bleue marine park.
Inland, Le Rove covers 2,300 hectares. Hikers and mountain bikers love it. From the sea to the A55 highway, you might spot Rove goats. Various birds of prey nest in the cliffs. A Bonelli’s eagle pair finds refuge here. This is a protected species.
Le Rove boasts exceptional monuments. The Chapelle St Michel is a Templar building from the 12th and 13th centuries. It was classified as a historical monument in 1977. Camp de Laure is a fortified site from the Bronze Age. The Oppidum de la Cloche dates to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. The Sainte-Anne church houses a classified pulpit. Forts Bas and Haut de Niolon and Fort de Figuerolles offer stunning views. They overlook the harbor of Marseille.
The town center is split by the RD568. Yet, Rovenains enjoy modern amenities. Local life thrives here. People feel like they are part of one big family.
Did you know that Le Rove is home to the Rove Tunnel? It is the world’s longest canal tunnel. It stretches 7,120 meters. The tunnel’s southeastern entrance is near Le Rove. It runs underground towards the Étang de Berre. The tunnel has been out of service since 1963.
The statue of a goat stands in front of Le Rove’s town hall. The goat symbolizes the city. Le Rove has always been goat country. The local goat’s milk is rich and fragrant. It is used to make the famous Rove cheese. No visit to Le Rove is complete without tasting it.
Le Rove is conveniently located. It is 17 km from Marseille. It is 15 km from Marseille Marignane International Airport. The village is nestled between the creeks of Niolon and La Vesse. The colorful village houses are aligned. Many residents commute to Marseille by train. The trip to Marseille St Charles station takes only 20 minutes.