Randonnée à la découverte de Niolon : son fort et sa calanque

Sport, Pedestrian sports, Hiking itinerary in Le Rove

5.7 km

Very easy

Discovering Niolon, its fort and the nearby calanque of La Vesse is an easy hike, starting from a point accessible by train, thanks to the TER line linking Marseille to Miramas via Port de Bouc. Numerous viewpoints.
The train follows an itinerary that allows us to get into the swing of things: it takes in several viaducts overlooking the sea. After l'Estaque, Niolon is the first seaside settlement to be served by a train station - our destination.
Like neighboring La Vesse, Niolon is part of the Le Rove commune.
On this hike, you'll have the chance to take in the sights of the old military buildings, including the Niolon fort. All along the way, hikers can take advantage of numerous viewpoints to... Read more
The train follows an itinerary that allows us to get into the swing of things: it takes in several viaducts overlooking the sea. After l'Estaque, Niolon is the first seaside settlement to be served by a train station - our destination.
Like neighboring La Vesse, Niolon is part of the Le Rove commune.
On this hike, you'll have the chance to take in the sights of the old military buildings, including the Niolon fort. All along the way, hikers can take advantage of numerous viewpoints to contemplate the landscape and the Mediterranean.

Leaving the Niolon station, turn left and walk straight ahead. Don't follow the small road leading down to the village. Take the "chemin des poseurs" which runs alongside the railroad line and leads to the start of the hiking trail itself. Continue straight ahead until the path drops off to the right.

Cross a stone bridge and the path climbs back up towards the fort, leading to a junction of two paths.

From here, take the left-hand path, heading east, which leads to a ruined military battery.

Then return to the junction and continue along the route that climbs between rocky limestone bars and the Jonquier valley.

At the first large crossroads, turn right and 500 m further on, go right down into the valley. After 350 metres, there's another junction where you need to go straight on.

After a further 450 metres, at a hairpin bend to the right, you'll find the start of a small path to follow. After a few minutes, you may see the ruins of an old sheepfold on your right. Shortly afterwards, there's a crossroads where you need to turn left to join the D48 road.

Once you've reached the road, turn left up the hill to the intersection, where you'll see a road sign for La Vesse. Walk along the edge of the road, past a field of olive trees, along the winding descent to the valley.

When you reach the first houses, stay on the main road. In the distance, you can see the railway viaduct. This is the right direction.

Pass under the viaduct to reach the end of the allée des Girelles, having skirted the port of La Vesse.

To reach the Calanque de Niolon, take the Chemin de la Douane, which leads to the Chemin du Port, in front of the "Auberge du mérou" restaurant.

The Chemin du Port leads back up to the train station.

But before going back under the viaduct, make a 200-metre detour (there and back) and turn left onto the chemin de la batterie to see the lower part of the Niolon fort from the outside.

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Departure

Le Rove
Difference in height

197 m
Plain text period

All year round.

Subject to favorable weather.
Environment
- Station district
- Close to a public transportation
- Village 2 km away
- Sea view
- Panoramic view
- Coastal
Spoken languages
Documentation
- GPX Trace
GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)

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Points of interest

1 Niolon station

2 Start of the hiking trail

3 The Fort of Niolon

4 Calanque de la Vesse

5 La Calanque de Niolon

6 UCPA centre

7 Steep staircase

1 Niolon station

The station is 40 metres above the sea. It no longer offers any SNCF-related services.

The former passenger building is now home to an inclusive third-party project with an outdoor refreshment area and soon a restaurant and gîte, where the main players are young adults from the TCap 21 association.

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2 Start of the hiking trail

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3 The Fort of Niolon

Situated 193 metres above the sea, the Niolon fort is a group of former French military batteries dating from the 19th century. Designed by General Séré de Rivières, it was built between 1860 and 1880 to defend the harbour of Marseille against any attack from the sea.

Then, during the Second World War, from 1942 onwards, the site, like all the others along the Mediterranean coast, was occupied and partly remodelled by the German army.

Unfortunately, the Conservatoire du Littoral decided to close the fort to the public. Because of its remote location, it has suffered a great deal of damage through acts of vandalism.

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4 Calanque de la Vesse

You arrive in the Calanque de la Vesse after walking along a winding road through the typical plants that make up the garrigue (broom, mastic, thyme, rosemary, sarsaparilla, holm oaks, pines, etc.).

Two small islets just off the coast, between the Calanque de la Vesse and the Calanque de Niolon, are great spots for diving or even snorkelling from the shore.

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5 La Calanque de Niolon

Nestling in a charming little cove, well protected from the Mistral wind, the Calanque de Niolon is located in the heart of the Côte Bleue Marine Park.

6 UCPA centre

A military vestige linked to the upper part of the Niolon fort, the lower part now houses a scuba diving training centre. The German bunkers have been converted to provide, alongside more recent buildings, all the facilities you need for a sporting holiday without too many frills. Here you can experience a return to basics.

The UCPA centre at Niolon is the only federal training centre for diving instructors on the Mediterranean coast.