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The Vallon des Auffes

A small picturesque fishing port

Located on the Corniche Kennedy, this district is the ideal place to dive into an authentic Marseille with a magical view of the sea.

A little history…

The Vallon des Auffes owes its name to auffe (or auffo in Provençal), a plant used in the manufacture of ship ropes or fishing nets. The small port has dozens of small typical and very colorful fishermen’s houses, but also their boats, several of which are pointed, typical Provençal boats that give charm to this place. A bridge spans the port over 60m, it was built in the 19th century by  Jean-François Mayor de Montricher, at the same time as the  Corniche Kennedy. Three arches of  17m high complete the building. The esplanade at the entrance to the Vallon on the Corniche also offers the monument to the Heroes of the Army of Orient and distant lands, a 5m high sculpture representing an allegory of victory and inaugurated in 1927 by President Gaston Doumergue. It was classified as a historical monument in 2009.

Did you know?

The Vallon des Auffes is home to the family pizzeria ‘Chez Jeannot’ whose history goes back to 1949! A good reason to go and taste the Marseille ‘pizze’ with a beautiful sea view.

A friendly neighbourhood with lively restaurants

In the Vallon des Auffes, there is no beach but an incomparable atmosphere! To swim, go under the arches and head for what the locals call ‘the Vallon swimming pool’, a popular spot for families (but be careful, the swimming is not supervised). We advise you to go there early in the morning to enjoy the calm. For the more adventurous, do not hesitate to climb the rocks to find a peaceful  place where the water is deeper.

The neighbourhood offers a range of restaurants for all budgets: from the pizzeria Jeannot, to the  gourmet restaurant ‘Chez Fonfon’ offering one of the best ‘bouillabaisse’ in the city,  to the Michelin starred l’Epuisette. And for a drink, the terrace of Viaghji di Fonfon welcomes you and even offers tapas!
During the season, you can also participate in ‘Oursinades’, a sea urchin tasting, in the restaurant ‘L’Avant-Cour’.

Useful information

The Vallon des Auffes is accessible by bus 83 taking 15 minutes from the Vieux- Port and 25 minutes from the Prado beaches.

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