Discover Marignane

Marignane offers two distinct themes for a trip: the shores and wetlands around Étang de Berre and Étang de Bolmon, and the city’s archaeological and architectural heritage. Trails, museums and historic buildings each offer a different perspective. When choosing a hotel in Marignane, you can plan your stay around the places and excursions that interest you most.

Shoreline, wetlands and trails

Le Jaï is a strip of land more than 5 kilometres long and about 250 metres wide on average, separating Étang de Berre and Étang de Bolmon. You can explore the shoreline on foot or by bike. At the kitesurfing spot, some areas are reserved for kitesurfing, while others are exclusively for swimming.

The 6.5-kilometre Sentier Petite Camargue de Marignane Les Paluns trail runs through the Paluns-Patafloux-Barlatier wetlands, by Étang de Bolmon and the Canal du Rove. The trail is in the protected natural area of Bolmon and Le Jaï, which belongs to the Conservatoire du Littoral. The raised wooden walkway on the Bolmon discovery trail is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The Balade numérique offers a different kind of route along the Marignane section of the GR®2013: the visitor route is 14 kilometres long and has 16 stops. Along the route, it uses 16 QR-code markers; check that they are available before setting out. Several kilometres of trails on Colline Notre-Dame are suitable for walking, running and mountain biking, including the GR®2013. The hill reaches a maximum height of 104 metres. In summer, the area may be closed when the risk of forest fires is high.

Archaeology and architectural history

The summit below the Notre-Dame sanctuary was occupied by a Celtic-Ligurian oppidum between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC. The excavations at the Oppidum de Notre-Dame de Pitié, most of which have been covered over again, are marked with signs identifying the main archaeological features. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié crowns the religious site of Mont du Calvaire, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is open to visitors on the first Sunday of each month from 2 to 5 pm; opening may be cancelled if there is a fire risk. Check the opening date before your visit.

The Église Saint-Nicolas preserves a monumental 16th-century gilded wooden altarpiece. The Château de Marignane brings together the historic phases of a medieval fortress, a Renaissance residence, a private mansion, a city palace and a town hall. Between 1690 and 1700, a Neoclassical façade reminiscent of the Palazzo Farnese unified the castle’s buildings.

The Musée Reynaud displays local archaeological finds from the excavations at Notre-Dame de Pitié. The Musée Albert Reynaud includes a fishing diorama and an overview of the fauna of the Étangs. On the shore of Étang de Bolmon stands the Pavillon cynégétique – Cabane camarguaise, a small building with characteristic features of Camargue architecture.

The Village de l’Estéou comprises around ten fishermen’s huts at the mouth of the Vallat de la Cadière. Around 1900, these picturesque Camargue-style shelters for fishermen, shepherds and hunters attracted numerous photographers. The l’Estéou sports and recreation complex covers 6.6 landscaped hectares on Étang de Bolmon. It includes a skatepark, climbing wall, relaxation area, children’s play facilities and a viewpoint. L’Estéou is also a stop on the Balade des familles, which connects the shore of Étang de Bolmon with the bank of the Canal du Rove.

Activities and getting there

Intrigue dans la Ville® is a family detective game in Marignane: hidden clues around the city lead you through a story about the theft of the votive offerings from the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié. In 2026, market stalls are scheduled to be held on Tuesdays and Saturdays in the car park of Parc Camoin; check the dates in advance.

For travel, the Pas des Lanciers TER station and the Aix-Arbois TGV station are nearby. Marseille-Provence Airport is within the municipality of Marignane, on the shore of Étang de Berre. Transport connections and service information may change; check them before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Eguilles, Istres, Fontvieille, Port-Saint-Louis-Du-Rhône, Saint-Cannat, Meyrargues, Cabriès, Eygalières.

Return to the main travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.