Calanque de l'Œil de Verre, Limestone inlet in Marseille, France
Calanque de l'Oeil de Verre is a limestone inlet nestled below Grande Candelle, positioned between Devenson plateau and Sugiton cove, with sheer rocky walls. Pine forests cover the surrounding hillsides down to the water's edge where the landscape meets the Mediterranean.
The inlet took its name in antiquity, with roots in Provençal language elements describing the local geography. A ceramic glass eye was placed in the rock face in 1904, a later addition that became an oddity within the landscape.
The name comes from Provençal language, combining words that reference water and the ridge where rainfall naturally divides into separate flows down the rock.
Reaching this cove requires scrambling over technical terrain with ladders and chains bolted into rock, demanding sure-footedness and no fear of heights. Starting early and checking weather conditions beforehand are essential, as the route becomes hazardous when conditions deteriorate.
A brown mark on the cliff shows the entrance to a hidden cave that sits high above the water and can only be reached by experienced climbers with proper gear. Most visitors never spot this concealed grotto, making it a discovery reserved for the most determined explorers.
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