Autumn - Discover the Most Beautiful Sites
The Blue Coast
About
Located between Marseille and Martigues, the Côte Bleue takes its name from its wonderful turquoise waters. It offers 28 kilometres of limestone coves, beaches and creeks with crystal clear waters, beautiful landscapes and small harbours of rare charm. Since 1983, a Marine Park has been created. This unique structure in France aims to protect the natural heritage of the Côte Bleue, to make it known and to participate in a better management of fishing resources. The temperatures are mild in autumn, and you can enjoy the seaside in complete tranquillity, and sometimes even swim.
Why should you visit?
To have the impression of having discovered a little piece of the world just a stone's throw from Marseille! This coast is less famous than the Calanques massif, but it offers equally spectacular scenery and picturesque little ports that are real havens of peace: Niolon, Ensuès-la-Redonne, Carry-le-Rouet, Sausset-les-Pins, Carro, etc. The vegetation on this coast is essentially made up of garrigues, Aleppo pines and protected species such as the helianthemums along the coastline. Its fauna is made up of animals living in an open or rocky environment. You can admire Bonelli's eagle, the black-eared wheatear, the peregrine falcon, the pale swift and the ocellated lizard.
Things to do
A visit with the Côte bleue train: it serves all the stations from Niolon to La Couronne from Marseille. With its 18 viaducts, 2 bridges and 23 tunnels, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful tourist railway lines in France and offers breathtaking panoramas. Take advantage of the many stops to discover the beaches, ports and coastal paths. A true delight!
A hike: autumn is the ideal time to enjoy this wild coast!
visorando.com proposes 15 hikes to discover this little piece of paradise.
A challenge: take 4 days to discover the Côte bleue on foot thanks to the Grand Sentier de la Côte bleue. This 62-kilometre itinerary can be completed in 4 days of walking. All the information on this website: https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/app/uploads/marseille-tourisme/2020/11/dp-randonnee-le-grand-sentier-de-la-cote-bleue-compressed.pdf
More Information
The website cote-bleue.com will give you all the information you need about the Côte bleue.
The PDF https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/app/uploads/marseille-tourisme/2020/11/dp-randonnee-le-grand-sentier-de-la-cote-bleue-compressed.pdf is also a mine of information!
Les Dentelles de Montmirail
About
Located between Carpentras, Vaison-la-Romaine and Mont Ventoux in the Vaucluse department, this rugged massif has its highest point, the Saint-Amand ridge, at 730 metres, and stretches for 8 kilometres. They are called "dentelles" because they form jagged limestone ridges caused by erosion. The name "Montmirail" comes from the Latin "mons mirabilis", which means "admirable mountain". It is a majestic massif that offers unforgettable panoramas. The site is world famous for its climbing walls, vineyards and olive oil.
Why should you visit?
Because this site is renowned for the beauty and diversity of its landscapes: rock faces rub shoulders with vineyards in a preserved environment. There are 200 animal species, more than half of which are under protection. On the outskirts of the vineyards, you can see, among others, the fox, the common hare, the turtle dove, the red partridge, the wall lizard and the crimson swallowtail, a magnificent brown butterfly with orange and yellow checkerboard lines. Amongst the birds, we find the black-eared wheatear. The site is home to one of the most endangered bird species in Europe: a breeding pair of Egyptian vultures. The vineyards act as biodiversity reservoirs where species come to feed and reproduce. The area also has 537 plant species, including white and purple clover, Italian alfalfa, wood chard and several species of orchid. It is a place of great ecological potential linked to the wine industry.
The site is ideal for climbing enthusiasts. The Dentelles are composed of three ridges. In the autumn, the south-facing walls are preferred, which means that you are sheltered from the wind and can enjoy the sun in a T-shirt!
It is also a magnificent land of vineyards. This terroir produces the prestigious crus: beaumes-de-venise and rastau for their sweet and red wines, gigondas and vacqueryas, as well as the côtes-du-rhône villages of Sablet and Séguret. The olive groves are once again on the rise since obtaining the AOC in 2007.
Things to do
A hike: superb panoramas are accessible to you thanks to walking. There are circuits for all levels, to do with family or friends. Some routes are not technically difficult.
The terrarando.com website is a mine of information. It offers several very interesting routes. Choose the tab "Les randonnées du Vaucluse", then click on "Dentelles de Montmirail" in the drop-down menu.
The visorando.com site offers 19 hikes depending on your level and the time you wish to spend on them.
A contemplation: here are some remarkable sites not to be missed:
- the Dentelles Sarrasines and the Grand Montmirail
- the crest of La Salle
- the Cayron ridge
- the Saint-Amand ridge
- the Alsau pass
- the Cayron pass
- the Ambrosi cave
- the Midi rock
More Information
Visit the ventouxprovence website to find out about all the activities available in this majestic site. The site routes-touristiques.com gives a lot of useful information about the Route des Vins. Type Dentelles de Montmirail in the magnifying glass.
The Vigueirat Marshes, in the Camargue
About
At the junction of the Rhone delta and the Crau plain, the Vigueirat marshes nature reserve extends over eight kilometres in length and 919 hectares in area. A visit to this domain is one of the largest estates of the Conservatoire du littoral in the Camargue. As their name suggests, the marshes are mainly made up of natural wetlands ranging from the salt lakes to the gentler reed beds. The site allows the observation of numerous animal and floral species and the discovery of typical Camargue landscapes.
Why should you visit?
Because this site has an exceptional natural environment! To discover an incredibly rich fauna and flora: more than 2,000 animal and plant species, 300 bird species, 35,000 ducks, 5 Camargue bull and horse farms and 899 species of plants, mushrooms and lichens. Among them, there are 597 plant species, 41 of which have protected status or are of heritage interest.
But if the reserve welcomes more than 30,000 visitors per year, it is also for its pink flamingos. The Camargue is the only region in France where you can admire them.
Things to do
A visit on horseback: accessible to all, this one-hour ride invites you to discover the typical Camargue environments, fauna and flora. Departure every day at 3pm.
A meeting with the pink flamingos: a two and a half hour guided tour of the reserve, organised every day at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm (except on Wednesdays and Sundays). A 6-hour nature walk on Wednesdays and Sundays, starting at 9.30 am.
For more information
The site: marais-vigueirat.reserves-naturelles.org is the most documented. It will give you access to all the information you need to know and visit the marshes.
The Esterel Massif
About
Located on the border of the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, between Saint-Raphaël and Mandelieu-la-Napoule, this 32,000-hectare site was created by a volcanic eruption 250 million years ago. Rugged hills, rocks and steep creeks plunging into the Mediterranean, forest, scrub and garrigue. Red, turquoise blue and green dominate and offer strikingly beautiful landscapes. The highest point of the massif is Mount Vinaigre, in the commune of Fréjus: 618 metres. Autumn is the ideal season to discover this site as the temperatures are still very mild and the sun is always shining.
Why should you visit?
Because it is one of the most beautiful natural destinations in France and a paradise for nature and sea lovers! The fauna is well represented. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded, such as the Colchis pheasant, the wood thrush, the woodcock and the pigeon, and birds of prey like the peregrine falcon. Mammals include red deer and hinds, Mediterranean hare, wild rabbit, badger, weasel, wild cat, red squirrel or ferret. The wild boar is the king of the place! They can be found everywhere. The flora is also very rich. In the forest, there are cork oaks, chestnut trees and maples, and on a walk you can admire flowers such as tree spurge, royal fern, Jupiter's beard, a plant of the honey suckle family, oleanders and plenty of wild orchids.
Things to do
The Corniche d'Or by car: for breathtaking views, take this sublime road at the foot of the Esterel, which offers 20 kilometres of pure panoramic pleasure between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes.
Inaugurated in 1903 at the instigation of the Touring Club de France, this route allows you to admire the massif with the sea in the background! A magical experience!
A hike: it's the ideal time for a walk in the middle of nature. The circuits.esterel-cotedazur.com website offers seaside, sports and family tours, and even favourite tours!
To find out more about the massif, visit esterel-cotedazur.com. The visitvar.fr website is also very interesting!
