Françoise Spiekermeier
Address book in Cassis, the Dolce Vita of Provence
In its amphitheater overlooking the Mediterranean, Cassis, a small fishing port twinned with Portofino in Italy, exudes a dolce vita atmosphere, Provencal style. A wind of freedom blows in from the mistral. People come here from Monaco, New York and Marseille to soak up the sun and indulge in the luxury of an elegant vacation. At the gateway to the Calanques, Cassis is an invitation to intoxicate yourself with the song of the sea.
Plume's address book.
Take a beauty bath at the iconic Hôtel Les Roches Blanches
If you've seen Cassis without visiting this hotel, you've seen nothing. Perched on a white limestone cliff, the 5* hotel with its 1920s-style façade offers a breathtaking view of the bay. The Art Deco style recalls the heyday of the French hotel industry. Management pays careful attention to detail to create an unforgettable experience in the heart of one of the most beautiful spots on the Provencal Riviera. The smiling, attentive staff transform the hotel into a true Cassidian family home for guests, who are invited to discover alluring activities both inside and outside the hotel walls. First, four restaurants with distinct identities entrusted since March 2023 to Cannes-based chef Nicolas Sintes: Les Belles Canailles, for signature dishes, Rocco, casual chic under the planted pergola with panoramic views over the harbor entrance, the Loup Bar, with raw fish specialties to be enjoyed under the leaning pines, and La Pétanque, for the tapas spirit before a game of boules. As for refreshments, the Lounge Bar, where mixologist Alexandre Bouvigniès officiates, has been enlarged to accommodate more cocktail lovers sipping cocktails overlooking Cap Canaille. The Spa by Sisley overlooks the sea, as does the infinity pool. The creative, Clés d'or-rated concierge service offers outings in a Trapani boat or ultra-luxury yacht, or rides in an electric Mehari with a gourmet picnic basket... Les Roches Blanches, or the art of cultivating casual chic in a typical, local spirit.
Luxury and elegance at Villa Cala Bianca
Villa Cala Bianca is a luxurious marine villa offering exclusive, private service at every level. Its rooms and suites, spread over four terraced floors, offer splendid views of the sea and Cap Canaille. Guests have access to two swimming pools nestled in the rocks, a gym, a massage room, a hammam, reception areas, a private chef and a wine cellar containing a selection of prestige vintages - including the nec plus ultra of the Cassis appellation. The butler is on hand to listen to your dreams and create an unforgettable vacation worthy of Cap Canaille. The "cala" is a typical Mediterranean cove, sheltered from the wind and from view. Villa Cala Bianca offers the luxury of this sunny isolation, a true cocoon of well-being.
Visit the Mediterranean gardens of the Camargo Foundation, an artists' residence
On the edge of the Parc national des Calanques, this rock-encrusted stone house has become a haven for artists and writers from around the world, invited to create in residence at Jerome Hill's home. The spirit of the American painter and patron of the arts hovers over this beautiful property, acquired in the 1950s and open to the public on a variety of occasions: from April to September, guided tours allow visitors to discover its terraced gardens. In June, the "Rendez-vous au Jardin" - on the theme of the "five senses" in 2024 - invites visitors to focus on the olfactory and tactile sensations created by the diversity of plant species. From the Bestouan beach, to find the exact angle of view in the painter's former home, acquired by American artist Jérôme Hill in the 1940s. This painter and film-maker created a place of experimentation where artists of all disciplines have been meeting since the 50s. In this melting pot of the international artistic avant-garde, now a publicly accessible artists' foundation, researchers, artists and thinkers continue to mingle their imaginations. The Amphitheatre of the Sea, built by Jérôme Hill himself, is a symbol of this. Discover it during guided tours of the garden from April to October... an opportunity to meet artists in residence from the four corners of the globe, and take the pulse of contemporary creation. Meetings with resident artists are organized throughout the year to contribute to the exchange of ideas. This place is too beautiful," said Jerome Hill. It must belong to all those who know how to appreciate it." The Foundation's animators strive to ensure that, more than ever, this place is a place for sharing this beauty.
Terrace at Café Liautaud
On the café's terrace, three steps from the port and the jeu de boules, the bistro tables and cane chairs have a Montmartre feel. All that's missing is Fernandel's voice to put the setting in its rightful place. True to the style of this establishment founded in 1875, the Germain family, originally from Marseille, took over this family-run hotel-café in 2022, breathing new life into it. The bottle-green of the old shutters has been incorporated into the menu graphics. Under the two-tone umbrellas, you can enjoy colorful bistro cuisine before boarding one of the boats bound for the calanques. The completely refurbished hotel will reopen in early July. The experience of spectacular sunsets over the calanques has inspired the creation of a rooftop overlooking the port and boat trips for aperitifs at anchor until the edge of the night.
Treat yourself to a painting by artist Gwendoline Pieters
Entering the narrow streets of the village reveals a number of nuggets: Gwendoline Pieters' painter's studio is one of them. Gwendoline Pieters knows the twists and turns of the calanques like the back of her hand, and has been painting them for over thirty years. Open to sharing her expertise, she exhibits her work in her studio in the heart of the village. From classic canvas painting, her technique has evolved towards HPM, Hand Painting Multiple, well known to graffiti artists: from a print on canvas, she reworks the motif with oil paint markers, to give volume to the waves or reflections on the water, restoring with poetry and accuracy the bewitching charm of the Calanques of Cassis. From May1 to July 31, his works will be exhibited outdoors on the gates of Place Baragnon, near the town hall.
Treat yourself to a gourmet jewel at Nomade
So beautiful you can eat them with your eyes! Opened in 2023, Nomade is the new darling of local gourmands. They come from Marseille, La Ciotat and Aix-en-Provence to raid the patisserie and delicatessen at Nomade, the Roches Blanches address in town. Valentin Fabry, the hotel's head pastry chef, expresses his creativity through a collection of precious bites on display. In 2024, two new creations were added to the catalog. First, Bali, a meringue cookie with passion fruit gel, mango-pineapple compote and coconut mousse. As ethereal as a hummingbird's flight. Then there's Cappuccino, a cocoa shortbread with hazelnut crunch, espresso cream and white coffee chantilly. Tailor-made cake designs are also available for special events, and fabulous wedding cakes for weddings. On the savoury side, the catering service is also provided by the hotel's restaurant chef, with an original proposal for this summer: picnic baskets containing a choice of tasty sandwiches to be enjoyed on an outing at sea, for example.
Lunch or dinner in peace at Villa Madie or Brasserie du Corton
With a breathtaking view over the turquoise waters of the Anse du Corton, Villa Madie is set apart from the rest of the village, both geographically and philosophically. Such is the spirit of the house imprinted by chef Dimitri Droisneau and his wife. Together, they cultivate difference. Contrary to the diktats of Michelin-starred restaurants, nothing here is set in stone: we constantly adapt to the land, the sea and what they decide to give us. Particular care is taken to ensure the cohesion of the crew. The chef and his partner bring together a young, relaxed team, passionate about human contact and their profession. The watchword in both restaurants is freshness. That's why the menu changes frequently. La Brasserie du Corton, on the other hand, gives pride of place to seasonal Provençal produce, in the form of traditional recipes, either unaltered or updated. Ideal every day of the year. At Villa Madie, a gourmet restaurant rated 3* in the Michelin Guide since 2023, the terroir is highlighted through products sublimated with respect for the human chain that bears them. The chef creates his iodized, mineral score in 4, 6 or 8 acts, with passion and precision: the fifth flavor of the Mediterranean.
Recharge your batteries at Domaine de Canaille
There's no need to look for an activity, it's all about letting yourself be carried away. A bit of yoga on the vast terrace bathed by the sunset; a dip in the cool pool water after an hour on the pebble beach; a stroll at the foot of Cap Canaille along the private path with its unparalleled view; listening to a piano tune played in the living room overlooking the sea... In fact, whatever your desires, anything is possible at Domaine de Canaille. This sublime property boasts a panoramic view of the Calanques massif and the cape that dominates it, as well as the capacity to comfortably accommodate twenty-six guests in its rooms, most of whose windows open onto an idyllic setting. Marie Treppoz, the new owner since 2017 of this former hotel much sought-after by the English intelligentsia in the 20th century, makes it a point of honor to make a stay here unforgettable. For those who can't afford to rent the house privately, she offers weekly detox stays, where you can relearn healthy habits under the guidance of the best therapists. Happiness therapy is here!
Biplane flight over the calanques with an AIX ULM pilot
Head up in the air, wearing a leather helmet and aviator's goggles, the pilot skims over the calanques at an altitude of a thousand meters, so as not to disturb the flight of Bonelli's eagles, emblematic of the Mediterranean environment. The wooden propeller turns at full speed, but the biplane doesn't exceed 120km/h. After flying over the Frioul, the Château d'If, the port of Marseille and the Ile de Riou at the tip of the Calanques massif, the panorama of the calanques from the air is breathtaking. The biplane picks up altitude again (1000m) to fly over Cassis, then Cap Canaille and the Soubeyranes cliffs... The landscape around La Ciotat is phantasmagorically beautiful, with its folds of red rock tumbling into the cobalt-blue sea. And we'd like this 1h30 tour to last an eternity!
Drinking the Cap Canaille at Clos Sainte Magdeleine
Did you know that the splendor of the Bay of Cassis has a taste? Unique, inimitable, summed up in a wine, a divine synthesis of the minerality of the soil, the sea air and the sunshine that fills the grapes. The Cassis appellation is the second smallest in France, with just eleven estates covering 215ha of vineyards, included since 2012 in the Parc national des Calanques. But in terms of prestige, it's one of the largest, with 70% of the vineyards cultivated organically. The complex terroir is spread over three distinct plots: Charlemagne-Cap Canaille, Les Janots-Rompide and Le Plan. Those who dream of "drinking" Cap Canaille should seek out the wines of Clos Sainte Magdeleine: the estate, taken over in 1921 by the Zafiropulo family, produces parcel-based cuvées. The most glorious, named "Bel-Arme" after a locality, comes from 50+ year-old vines planted in restanques facing west-southwest, right under the ubac of Cap Canaille. Thanks to this exceptional location, the estate was also used as the setting for the film Borsalino, starring Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo (1970). Book online for a privileged tasting experience.
Living the dolce vita at the wheel of a vintage Retrocab
Luigi sets off along the Route des Crêtes to admire the sunset: not too fast, though... The burgundy leather seats, the round gearshift knob, the chrome mirrors and the characteristic engine noise - everything on board the Fiat 500 is adorable, just like the person whose heart it beats. The Fiat 500 is ideal for a declaration of love. Unless you prefer the legendary Fiat 124, a red convertible christened Claudia, or Jane, the white British MG with black upholstery... So chic. A gleaming stable awaits you to experience Cassis in the 1960s, when BB was loaned a cottage at the Fondation Camargo to house her romance with Jean-Louis Trintignant during the filming of Et Dieu... créa la femme. Philippe Serre and Julian Gentaire are happy to hand over the keys to these legendary vehicles that have been taken out of their box for a day or more, to share the pleasure of driving the old-fashioned way on the roads of Cassis and the surrounding area.
Our address book in Cassis
Hôtel Les Roches Blanches
9, av. des Calanques 13260 Cassis
Villa Cala Bianca
11, av. des Calanques 13260 Cassis
Fondation Camargo
15, av. de l'Amiral-Ganteaume 13260 Cassis
Le Café Liautaud
4, av. Victor-Hugo 13260 Cassis
Galerie Gwendoline Pieters
22, rue du Dr Séverin-Icard 13260 Cassis
Nomade
12, av. Victor-Hugo 13260 Cassis
Villa Madie
Anse de Corton, 30, av. du Revestel 13260 Cassis
Domaine de Canaille
Chemin du Revestel 13260 Cassis
AIX ULM
Aérodrome des Milles, 885, chemin de La Badesse 13290 Aix-en-Provence, France
Retrocab
Domaine Pieracci, 975, chemin du Sauvet 83270 Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer
Le Clos Sainte Magdeleine
Av. du Revestel 13260 Cassis
