Trail bike
Ride around the land side of the Marseilleveyre massif which overlooks Marseille and its beaches. The calanques are where the rocky limestone valleys are submerged by the Mediterranean, the valleys on the landward side are wooded with pines and shrubs.
Not many routes are open to trail bikes in the Parc National des Calanques so the choice is limited. Starting from the pines of the Roy d’Espagne estate, my route took me and my classic Marin up the Vallon de la Jarré, over the col at about 265 m. and down the Vallon des Trois Gancets to the beaches at Pointe Rouge and Borély.
Ride to Marseille beach Borély under a burning blue sky, my scenic route passing the renowned architecture of L’immeuble Corbusier.
Steep but short pedal up the rock to Marseille’s landmark church, Notre-Dame de la Garde, for a panoramic view of the city and port. Down to the beaches via the Corniche Kennedy.
Clean-up and maintenance time for my classic Palisades Trail Lite on my balcony in Marseille.
Ride through the cycle lanes and the traffic to the Plage de l’Anse des Phocéens, which is known locally as “Chez Paulette” because of the beach bar which used to serve the bathers. So a Marseillais could say “I’m going to Paulette’s”, which really meant “I’m going to the beach”.
The Phoenicians are credited by the Roman historian Justin with having founded Massalia or Μασσαλία (ancient Marseille) in the Vth century BC.
