Visiting La Ciotat

What to do in La Ciotat

Discover La Ciotat’s rich cultural and natural heritage. Between the gentle pace of life, idleness, sightseeing and outdoor activities, your getaway in La Ciotat will be punctuated by the southern sunshine.

The village of La Ciotat

The center of the village of La Ciotat is home to a rich heritage. Take a stroll and discover the Pénitents Bleus chapel, a listed historic monument, the Pénitents Noirs chapel and the Notre Dame de la Garde chapel perched high above the town. And don’t miss the impressive Notre Dame de l’Assomption church overlooking the old port. To learn more about the history of La Ciotat, you are invited to visit the Musée du Vieux La Ciotat. Marked by the history of cinema, the town is home to the oldest cinema in the world: the Eden Théâtre, where the first films by Louis and Auguste Lumière were screened.

Take advantage of this stay to enjoy the colors and smells emanating from the stalls of the La Ciotat market. You’ll discover food stalls, clothing stalls, craft stalls… which take place all year round on Sunday mornings on boulevard Anatole France, on Tuesdays on place Evariste Gras and on Saturdays on quai François Mitterand. Every morning, the Quai Ganteaume and Quai François Mitterrand host the fish market. From late June to late August, you can also find the La Ciotat night market from 8pm to midnight (and until 1am at weekends) on the Port-Vieux. With over 80 stalls, a wide choice is on offer, with jewelry, clothing, and even food, all showcasing Provencal craftsmanship.

Natural sites

The calanque of Mugel, protected by the Bec de l’Aigle massif, offers a beautiful setting between turquoise water and a small pebble beach. An ideal spot for snorkeling. You’ll also appreciate the Mugel park for a stroll among oaks, laurels, pines, bamboos, rose bushes, citrus trees… The Park is home to a belvedere from the top of which you’ll get a breathtaking view of the sea and Ile Verte.

The calanque of Figuerolles, located close to that of Le Mugel, stands out for its shimmering colors, clear water, small pebble beach and rocks in the shape of a dog’s head and an eagle. This breathtaking landscape has inspired many artists to immortalize it, such as George Braque in his 1907 oil painting.

L’Ile Verte, just 420 meters from the shore of La Ciotat, is the only wooded island in the department. On the island, you can take the hiking trail to walk around it. While fortifications were once built on the island to protect it, today only remnants remain, which did not withstand the American bombardments of World War II.

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