Le Rove: Côte Bleue, Hiking Trails and Heritage

When choosing a destination for your hotel stay, Le Rove is worth exploring through several themes: the protected natural area of the Côte Bleue, hikes around Niolon and a heritage that ranges from a medieval chapel to a Bronze Age settlement.

Natural Area and Côte Bleue

Le Rove is part of the Côte Bleue, an area open to the public. The Côte Bleue is classified as a protected landscape within the Massif de la Nerthe and is also part of a Natura 2000 site. Landscape protection also plays a major role within the municipality: 87 percent of its area lies within a protected landscape. This amounts to around 2,000 of the municipality’s 2,300 hectares.

A pair of Bonelli’s eagles nests in the Côte Bleue area, which includes Le Rove. A special 113-hectare protection zone has been established there for the birds; the protection order was signed in 2018. These details add a particular ecological dimension to the natural area, alongside its importance as a landscape.

You can explore Le Rove’s natural area on foot or by mountain bike. Seasonal fire restrictions may affect access. Check the current restrictions before setting out.

Hikes Around Niolon

The hike to discover Niolon, its fort and the Calanque de La Vesse is listed as an easy hike in the route description, updated on April 24, 2023. Weather permitting, it is intended to be accessible year-round. The starting point can be reached by train; the TER Marseille–Miramas line via Port-de-Bouc is listed as the rail connection for the hike. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable in advance.

This hike includes a 200-metre detour from which you can see the lower part of Fort de Niolon from the outside. A 3.5-kilometre dirt track through the garrigue also leads to the fort. Local access conditions may vary; check the situation on site before setting out. This will help you adapt your route to the access conditions and the planned trail.

Chapel, Settlement and Maritime History

The Chapelle Saint-Michel in Le Rove dates from the 12th to 13th century and is considered one of the earliest examples of Gothic art. The site was designated a Monument historique on July 29, 1977. This gives the site a specific historical date and places the chapel within the context of early Gothic art.

The Camp de Laure represents a very different period: it is the only fortified settlement in the south of France with stone fortification walls dating from the Bronze Age. Excavations uncovered part of the rampart and distinctive Bell Beaker pottery. The Camp was designated a Monument historique on January 15, 1997. The chapel and settlement therefore offer different ways to explore Le Rove’s history, from medieval architecture to archaeological traces of the Bronze Age.

Fort de Niolon was built in the late 1880s at a site 193 metres above sea level. Along with the track through the garrigue and the view of the lower part of the fort from the outside, it is also a specific landmark for hikes around Niolon.

The Tunnel du Rove represents another facet of local history. It was intended to connect the Port of Marseille with the waterways of northern France via the Rhône. It is also the only underground maritime passage connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Étang de Berre. Its planned connection and distinctive construction tell two different stories about the history of infrastructure.

Brousse du Rove

Brousse du Rove is also part of the local character: it received AOC status in 2018. Traditionally, it is eaten sweet, with jam or orange blossom water, or savoury, with a drizzle of olive oil. GAEC André Gouiran in Le Rove is among its producers; the producer group may change. These sweet and savoury preparations offer a specific culinary complement to the area’s natural and cultural attractions.

Discover more destinations: Cabannes, Maillane, Auriol, La Penne-Sur-Huveaune, Aureille, Saint-Savournin, Entressen, Jouques.

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.