Château de Port-Miou, château français situé à Cassis
The Château de Port-Miou is a multi-story stone building with a tower standing on the north shore of the inlet that shares its name. It sits right by the water in a zone for boats and light equipment, surrounded by steep limestone cliffs shaped by former quarry work.
The building was first mentioned in official records in 1810 when purchased by the state, though its construction date and origin remain unclear. In the late 1800s the property became part of a Belgian industrial enterprise that extracted limestone here for soda production, an ingredient in Marseille soap.
The name Port-Miou likely comes from the Provençal word for a small sheltered harbor where fishermen once moored their boats. The building now serves as a harbor master's office and information center where visitors learn about the national park and how the inlet is used today.
The site is about a 30-minute walk from Cassis or reachable by shuttle from the parking area. The upper floor and terrace open to the public during warmer months on certain days for exhibitions and events, so checking current access conditions beforehand is helpful.
The roof has beams shaped like animals that some believe came from an old ship, giving the building a maritime connection. Painter Joseph Garibaldi captured the property in an 1893 painting when quarry work was still ongoing and the inlet already showed signs of human activity.
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