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Top 10 Things to do in Martigues

Martigues is at a strategic location that easily links to other bigger cities such as Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Arles and Avignon.

Also called the Provencal Venice because of its canals, Martigues is famous for its world folklore festival, museum, its jousts and beaches of the Blue Coast.

The city boasts its delicious Mediterranean cuisine, beautiful coastline and museums displaying works by the renowned artists who lived in Martigues.

While in the city, you can visit the charming fishing villages like Carro, and La Couronne. Take some time off and relax by the sea or enjoy delicious seafood in the many small restaurants, you can taste the famous little ros茅 C么te de Provence to the wine cellar.

Here are the top 10 things to do in Martigues

1. Miroir aux Oise aux Lake

This lake and the scenes surrounding it clearly tell why Martigues was considered the painters’ haven.

The peaceful lake is surrounded by buildings with colorful fa莽ades, brightly colored little boats moored along the canal.

Some notable painters that frequented this place were Felix Ziem, and Corot.

If you happen to be by the lake at night, you will enjoy a spectacular view lit by pretty iron gaslights illuminating your view across the Galiffet Canal to see the Church of Saint-Genest.

2. 脡glise Sainte-Madeleine-de-l鈥櫭巐e

Elliott Brown-Wikimedia

The historic monument was completed in 1680. Some interior furnishings were added later on.

The church is located in the French department of Bouches-du-Rh么ne in Martigues city.聽 It has a distinctive Corinthian-style fa莽ade from the 17^th century.

Its rich interior decoration is made up of paintings, a high altar, statues and monumental paintings. You will also notice its imposing organ buffet.

3.聽 Plage du Verdon Martigues

The beach of the Verdon is a beautiful spreading to 300 meters wide full of sand. It is a popular spot with the natives of Martigues.

It is protected by a large Cove that shelters it from the wind. There are facilities for the entire family to enjoy. There are pedal boat activities, enjoy the views while floating away on the sea.

The beach is supervised for safety and there are bars and restaurants for meals and drinks while enjoying the beautiful views of the sea.

4.聽 Visit Parc de Figuerolles

Perry Grone-Unsplash

This 321-acre park was formerly the weekend estate of the Denverville family, they were wealthy soap manufacturers based in Marseille. It was then handed fully to the town of Martigues in 1995.

It was open to the public as a park in 2005. You can easily have quite a budget-friendly day out with the family.

The park is very popular with the locals who go for jogs, walk their dogs or just hang out on the beach by the lake.

Walk along the botanical trail, or go to the municipal greenhouse where they grow beautiful flowers that beautify the city.

5.聽聽聽聽聽聽 Beach time at Plage de Sainte-Croix

Alejandro Luengo-Unsplash

This small sandy beach is one of the most beautiful beaches around Marseille. It is between Sausset-les-Pins and Martigues, and it is family-friendly. There is a beach patrol on site.

The Sainte Croix beach offers a peaceful setting with its very clean turquoise waters and its beach surrounded by pine trees offering shady comes in handy during hot summers.

The beach is 100 meters long and 40 meters wide and is perfect for a day out in the sea or for a picnic. There is a small white chapel nearby.

Restaurants by the beach have delicious meals and ice cream for those hot days.

6. Tour Mus茅e Ziem in Martigues

Victor S茅goffin-Wikimedia

Another attraction in Martigues worth a visit is the museum of fine arts. It was named after the painter Felix Ziem. He was not from Martigues originally but did a lot of paintings of the city that he fell in love with.

One of his famous works at the museum is 脡tang de Berre (Berre Lagoon) that was painted in a style that foreshadowed Impressionism.

Some of the oldest pieces displayed in the museum date back to the 12^th century. There are also models of future projects of the city in display.

Other famous painters featured in the museum are Loubon, Guigou and Jean-Baptiste Olive, and there are also landscapes by Fauvists like Picabia, Derain and Dufy.

7. Enjoy a Hike at Coe Bleue

It is a rocky coastline surrounded by deep coves with tiny harbours and seaside resorts such as聽Niolon, Carry-le-Rouet, and Sausset-les-Pins.

This beautiful blue coast is between the Calanques National park and Carmague Regional Nature Park. You can enjoy water sports such as diving and paddleboarding. You can also enjoy a swim in the beautiful blue-green water.

A coastal path by the beach leads to a chapel overlooking the sea; you can get beautiful panoramic views from there.

There are restaurants by the beach that serve sumptuous French cuisine.

8. Chapelle Notre Dame des Marins

This chapel is built on a hill overlooking the city and offering a panoramic view of the sea, canals and the lagoon. Leading up to the chapel is a winding sandy walk path.

It was dedicated to 鈥淥ur Lady of the Sailors鈥�, a place where seafarers would go to say prayers and leave offerings before embarking on an expedition.

This charming chapel is a testament of how things used to be in Martigues.

9. Carry-le-Rouet

By Jddmano – wikimedia

Carry-le-Rouet is an administrative town in聽Bouches-du-Rh么ne聽department聽in southern聽France. This seaside resort is located聽19聽miles聽west of聽Marseille聽and is set at the foot of pine-covered hills.

There is an “Oursinades” festival held every February where you can take part in tasting聽sea urchins, various shellfish and other seafood.

The main dive centre at the resort has an undersea journey at the cote Bleue creeks where the marine reserve protects the sea creatures.

The singer聽Nina Simone spent her last days at her home in Carry-le-Rouet where she died in 2003.

10. Experience Martigue at night

There are favorite bars and restaurants to end your day at while mingling with the locals. Enjoy local beer, food and live music too.

Experience the culture and traditions of Martigue through food, and music. Sample different cuisines such as Italian, French, Mediterranean.

Martigue neighbouring cities include Marseille, Arles and Avignon. You can easily get to these cities from Martigue and discover much more about France’s history, culture and medieval monuments.