Anse de Maldormé, Protected cove in 7th arrondissement of Marseille, France

Anse de Maldormé is a small cove in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille, enclosed by limestone cliffs and reached by a flight of stone steps. The beach is a narrow strip of pebbles and flat rock shelves; the seabed drops off gradually, staying shallow close to the shore.

Anse de Maldormé lies below the Corniche Kennedy, the coastal road laid out in the 1860s under Napoleon III's Second Empire, which cut the cliff footpath along the 7th arrondissement. The cove's stone steps and retaining walls date from that era of coastal works. Local fishermen kept small boats there into the 20th century, and the inlet later became a bathing spot for residents of the Endoume quarter.

Local people gather here regularly and have created their own community among the rocky shores. The place feels like a neighborhood spot where familiar faces return season after season.

The beach area is small and fills up quickly on warm days, so arriving early gives you the best chance of finding space. Wear sturdy shoes since the steps can be wet and the rocks are slippery underfoot.

The cove lies below the Corniche Kennedy, and the calanque of Maldormé takes its name from the Provençal word for a small bay. Bathers reach it by a flight of steps cut into the rock; the surrounding limestone ledges, worn smooth by the sea, serve as natural drying spots after a swim.