I find the 25 km. stretch along the coast from Marseille to Cassis to be the best coastline in Mediterranean France for the great outdoors. Known as the Calanques, it has long, narrow and deep inlets (a bit like minature fjords) with plenty of limestone cliffs for hikers and climbers alike. The Mediterranean is deep blue and green and swimming between the vertical cliffs is a great way to cool down after a hike. The whole area is unpopulated and outside the most popular peble stone beaches, you can find yourself pretty much on your own for hours walking along the well marked footpaths.
The contrasts are many along the Calanques, water and cliffs, the few hill top pine trees left after many forest fires, but most of all the intencity of the light that seems to be so abundant. Therefor, the possibilities for a photographer are plenty, but also the challenges, primarily regarding close up access in the rugged landscape and the intensity of light.
I have used Cassis as a good starting point for many years, but I now find the University of Marseille at Luminy and the tiny port of Morgiou better for searching out the more desolated streches of coast line. Out at Cap Morgiou, an old pirate stronghold still with ruins of defensive walls, you really feel at large with a 360 degrees view of the whole area.
