Make your stop-overs a unique moment of discovery and sharing!
Marseille, the "Oldest City in France", is one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean and welcomes more than 500 calls every year. Surrounded by hills, creeks and numerous historical buildings, the 27 km long metropolis is rich in culture and breathtaking landscapes.
To enjoy the city and its atmosphere, La Belle Échappée offers you a side-car escapade with your south-siders who will transmit the charm of the city in a unique and original way.
For the departure of this tour, dive into the heart of the oldest district of Marseille: the Panier. Aboard the sidecar, get lost in its narrow streets between small cafes, colorful street-art facades and small designer stores.
Then go to the Vieux-Port where you can discover the famous fish market, stroll along the quay, watch the fishermen going out to sea and take a selfie under the Ombrière.
Then, you will go along the coast passing by the unavoidable Corniche John Fitzgerald Kennedy, "the longest bench in the world", which offers an unobstructed view on the massif of Marseille as well as on the nearby islands.
Then, head for the most visited monument and the emblematic figure of the city of Marseille: the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde. The "Bonne Mère" offers a 360° panoramic view of the city and you will be amazed by its exterior and interior architectural beauty.
Go "to Les Goudes", where the end of the city is located. Les Goudes is a small traditional port with a picturesque setting surrounded by huts still housing a few fishermen and hills with remnants of fortifications from the Second World War. Enjoy the majestic scenery and the breathtaking view of the harbor of Marseille while enjoying a little wine tasting and local products.
After a nice visit of the Phocaean city, get back on your vintage side-cars and drive to the Col de la Gineste, a spectacular road axis with its panoramas, which will lead you to the charming little village of Cassis. Discover this ancient fishermen's village nestled in a natural setting where pine forests, ochre or white rocks and vineyards of the plain are mixed. Take the Route des Crêtes which also offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Calanques massif, where you will see the highest sea cliff in Europe, the Cap Canaille and enjoy a tasting of local products in this atypical natural setting.
You can also visit the back country of Aix and ride through the nature of Provence and its sites rich in culture and history.
Direction Rognes, small village of Provence par excellence. On the way you will follow the footsteps of the famous painter Paul Cézanne and admire the famous Sainte-Victoire, represented on the artist's paintings. You will also be able to observe the Château La Coste, a historic wine estate in Provence.
Through the roads of Provence, you can enjoy a setting of vineyards, cypresses, olive trees and oaks ... but not only! Indeed you will drive on an old collapsed volcano, which because of its flat surface does not allow to be seen. You will be able to observe in this volcanic territory the remains of the volcano and of the eruption.
Arrival at Château Bonisson, a wine estate in the heart of the Aix-en-Provence vineyards. Drive through the 10 hectares of vineyards and discover this splendid 18th century bastide, rich in culture and history. Discover their contemporary art center, where works by French and international artists are exhibited... while enjoying a glass of the color of your choice.
On the way back you will be able to admire, if the period allows it, the lavender flowers coloring the plains. Arrival in Aix-en-Provence at the famous Rotonde fountain where you can enjoy a little free time before departure.
