En-Vau, Limestone inlet in 9th arrondissement of Marseille, France
Vertical white limestone walls rise to 170 meters above a natural shingle beach, forming a narrow estuary that extends 2.5 kilometers inland.
During World War II, German forces integrated the inlet into their Mediterranean defensive system by constructing a military battery at the site.
The natural formations of En-Vau have drawn numerous painters and filmmakers, including the 1964 production of Fantômas with Louis de Funès.
Access requires a 90-minute hike from either La Gardiole or Port Miou, as vehicles are not permitted in the area since 2019.
The beach area accommodates 400 visitors at maximum capacity, while the underwater landscape contains extensive posidonia meadows supporting marine life.
Location: 9th arrondissement of Marseille
GPS coordinates: 43.20110,5.50070
Latest update: May 27, 2025 09:58
France offers multiple beaches, from Normandy limestone cliffs to Corsican bays. This selection presents white sand beaches, cliffs, protected coves and nature reserves across different regions.
France features a notable variety of protected natural areas, showcasing the country’s geological and ecological richness. From Lake Allos in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the underground rivers of Padirac in Dordogne, from the mountain ranges of Savoy to the limestone formations of the Ardèche gorges, each region displays landscapes shaped over millennia of natural evolution. This collection gathers sites where nature is expressed freely: primary forests, karst systems, high-altitude lakes, moving dunes of the Atlantic coast, and rock formations carved by erosion. These areas provide diverse ecosystems, home to species adapted to different environments, from Alpine flora and fauna to dune communities and underground cave biodiversity. Each natural site in this selection serves as an open-air laboratory where geological processes, ecosystem dynamics, and living adaptation to local conditions can be observed. These sites invite discovery of authentic landscapes, removed from human impact, where geological time is evident in every rock formation and glacier valley.
France contains notable geological formations from the chalk cliffs of Normandy to the limestone gorges of Provence. The landscape includes natural bridges, cliffs, canyons, and islands. The geological features range from white chalk cliffs in Étretat to the limestone plateau of Mont Aiguille.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region combines medieval villages, historical fortresses, and natural areas. The region features geological formations like the Demoiselles Coiffées, French Riviera coastal landscapes, and alpine territories. Monasteries, castle ruins, and traditional villages display regional history. Natural landscapes include lavender fields and mountain passes.
Château de Cassis
3.4 km
Calanque de Sugiton
3.8 km
Calanque de Port-Miou
1.3 km
Plage de Port Pin
869 m
Port-Pin
871 m
Exsurgence de Port-Miou
1.1 km
Plage du Bestouan
2.8 km
Calanque de l'Œil de Verre
2.8 km
Calanque de la Triperie
4.1 km
Devenson
1.5 km
Calanque de l'Oule
719 m
Location kayak Cassis
3.4 km
Plage d'En Vau
253 m
Plage de la Calanque de Sugiton
4 km
Plage Grande Mer
3.3 km
Col de la Candelle
3.1 km
Scenic viewpoint
605 m
Cassis Lighthouse
3 km
Église Saint-Michel de Cassis
3.4 km
Belvedere d'en Vau
599 m
Town hall of Cassis
3.5 km
Scenic viewpoint
543 m
Scenic viewpoint
3.8 km
Scenic viewpoint
2.9 km
Château de Port-Miou
1.6 km
Fontaine, avenue Victor Hugo, Cassis
3.5 km
Grande Candelle
3 km
Scenic viewpoint
123 mReviews
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