Wow! What a fantastic dam. Forget Cezanne and Picasso and the Mont St Victoire, if you're in…read moreProvence why not visit the site of some serious civil engineering instead? It was built by Joseph Rigaud between 1946 and 1951 and stores up to 40 million cubic metres of water. It's no 3 gorges, but it's certainly more pretty.

From the owner: Belle idée balade Une vue plongeante sur des eaux turquoise avec de belles possibilités de ballades…read moresur les sentiers avec vue sur la montagne Sainte victoire. Possibilité de marcher jusqu'au barrage Zola en aval construit par le père du célèbre écrivain. Egalement des possibilités de ballades à vélo. Prendre à l'Est d'Aix en provence direction Vauvenargues et suivre barrage de Bimont. Grand parking pour les voitures

Someone had suggested that, when I wanted to get out of the icy depths of Grenoble, that I check…read moreout Marseille and, offhandedly, added I should check out the Calanques, adding that they were a nice hike along the shore. Wow! Did she undersell the Calanques. Driving out to the parking for Calanque de Siguton, I really didn't know what to expect aside from what I saw immediately around me--scrublands and forest. But, upon cresting the ridge and facing the ocean, it was as if I had been transported to that picturesque French Mediterranean coast. Even on a winter's day, the colors were vibrant and the sun on my skin was just as warm. No swimming for me (though I was tempted and think it wouldn't have been so bad had I been prepared). Hiking or sailing to the Calanques is a must-do for anyone anywhere near them!

This calanque is beautiful, and there are hiking trails around it so you can go down and touch the…read morewater! We walked from Luminy to here after taking metro and bus 21 from the city center, and it was quite a walk but totally worth it! We got a view of the calanque from high up as well as almost down at the water. The water is so blue, and the cliffs surrounding it really makes it look pretty. Definitely recommend if you're in Marseille!