Cassis is a pretty coastal town in Provence surrounded by vineyards and majestic cliffs, guarded by the ruins of a medieval castle, and nestled around a picture-perfect fishing port. This town was an ancient fishing port, and today the remaining small fishing port shares the harbor with yachts and tourists boats. The village that you see today was rebuilt on the old ruins in the eighteenth century, thus resulting in a more regular city layout.
However, the medieval village retains some of its nice old buildings that belong to the sixteenth century.
The Cassis harbor is the prettiest part of the village, and it also sports old fountains and an open-air artist’s market.
A Little Bit of History
The first recorded name of Cassis was Carsicis Portus.
Port of Cassis
Paleolithic stamped pottery shards and Paleo-Christian lamps discovered at the Calanque Port-Miou show that the village has been occupied since Paleolithic period. It was a fishing port of the Romans.
It was taken over by different rulers during the medieval period. Seigneurie de Roquefort ruled over Cassis in the fourteenth century and in 1443 it became an independent parish ruled by the bishops of Marseille.
In the sixteenth century Charles-Quinte of Spain captured the chateau and pillaged the village. The inhabitants suffered severely from the 1720 plague.
Cassis Port
Although the village was occasionally attacked by pirates, it was relatively peaceful until 1813 when the English overpowered Napoleon’s army and destroyed the port.
Cassis started making wine even before the arrival of the Greeks in 600 BC. It has gotten better with time and the region produces red, rose and white wines, with the white wine being the most famous.
Popular souvenirs include soaps and perfumes from Provence.
Music Festival, Revelations a Cassis, Marche Paysan and Provencal market are some of the popular events of Cassis.
Where is Cassis?
- 31.6 miles/ 50.9 km from Aix-en-Provence, France
- 9.3 miles/ 15 km from Aubagne, France
- 19.1 miles/ 30.8 km from Bandol, France
- 7 miles/ 11.3 km from La Ciotat, France
- 20.6 miles/ 33.3 km from Marseille, France
- 124.2 miles/ 200 km from Nice, France
- 26.3 miles/ 42.4 km from Toulon, France
- 34.4 miles/ 55.4 km from Marseille Airport, France
- 41.5 miles/ 66.8 km from Toulon Hyeres Airport, France
- 119.3 miles/ 192 km from Nice Cote D’Azur Airport, France
- 249.7 miles/ 402 km from Turin Airport, Italy
Things to See
- The Fort
- Calanques
- Museum
- Climbing
- Route Des Cretes
- Clos Sainte Magdeleine
- Kayaking
Beaches
- Plage de la Grande mer
- Plage du Corton
- Plage de l’Arene
- La Plage du Bestouan
- La Plage Bleue
Excursions
- The Calanques
- Marseille
- Aix-en-Provence
Cassis is a popular tourist destination on the Mediterranean famous for its cliffs and sheltered inlets.
It is a rather gorgeous, but sleepy town whose atmosphere you would like very much to return for an extended period.
We wish you a fantastic Mediterranean cruise!
