Martigues between the Mediterranean and the Étang de Berre

Martigues lies between the Mediterranean to the west and the Étang de Berre to the east. This location provides a clear point of reference when planning your trip, between two distinct waterscapes. Museums, protected sites, a natural area and coastal activities all contribute to the city’s character. If you’re looking for a hotel in Martigues, you can plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

Natural areas and trails in the Grand Parc de Figuerolles

The Grand Parc de Figuerolles is a free-to-access natural area in the heart of Martigues. Its five trails offer different ways to explore the park. One trail is suitable for pushchairs and is at least 3 km long; another runs for 7 km around the park and along the Étang de Berre. The route details can help you match the time you plan to spend in the natural area to your interests and the distance you want to cover.

Art and city history

The Musée Ziem brings together several collection highlights: archaeology, modern and contemporary art, fine arts, ethnology and photography. There are also temporary exhibitions featuring paintings, drawings and objects. Water and sky dominate the works on display that evoke Martigues and its reflections. The museum thus combines a broad range of subjects with a recurring connection to the city and its waterscape.

The Galerie de l'Histoire de Martigues offers insight into key stages in the city’s development. It uses written documents, photographs, models, museum objects and interactive terminals to do so. This use of different media complements the art collections with an account of the city’s history.

Individual sites also provide a tangible link to the past: the Church of La Madeleine in Martigues was built between 1670 and 1680. Together with the Saint-Sébastien Canal and Quai Brescon, the Miroir aux Oiseaux forms an ensemble that has been protected as a classified site since 1942. The church and the ensemble thus represent different historical periods that visitors can explore as they learn about Martigues.

Fort de Bouc: history and access

Fort de Bouc has been listed as a historic monument since January 6, 1930. Following restoration work, it was opened to the public for the first time in its thousand-year history in 2007. Visits are by water only and require a reservation with the Martigues Tourist and Convention Office. Reservation arrangements may change, so check them before your visit.

La Couronne and Plage du Verdon

Plage du Verdon is located in La Couronne, within the municipality of Martigues, and is the largest fine-sand beach on the Côte Bleue. Pedal boats with slides and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent at the beach. Rentals are seasonal; check before your trip whether they will be available during your stay. This makes the coast a distinct focus to include in your plans, alongside the museums and natural area within the city.

Poutargue and wine

In Martigues, poutargue is made at one of the last remaining calens in France, on the waterfront. The small fishermen’s hut continues to use traditional fishing methods with boats and nets. The roe sacs used to make poutargue are caught in the Martigues Canal.

The cooperative winery in Saint-Julien-les-Martigues also offers a firsthand look at the local wine culture. The guided tour takes you through the grape varieties and the winery, and ends with a tasting of two blends. White, rosé and red blends are available. If you’re interested in regional produce, this visit complements the subjects of fishing and poutargue with an insight into winegrowing.

Discover more destinations: La Couronne, Saint-Estève-Janson, Marignane, Ensuès-La-Redonne, Roquefort-La-Bédoule, Ceyreste, Meyreuil, Saint-Antonin-Sur-Bayon.

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.