Vallon des Auffes
The Vallon des Auffes is a small fishing harbour on the Corniche Kennedy, spanned by a 19th-century bridge with three arches 17 m high. Its name comes from the auffe, a plant once used to make ship's ropes and fishing nets.
WhatCove, MarseilleProvence
WhenJune to October17° in Nov
Getting there Bus On foot
CostPublic shoreFree
AccessNot lifeguarded; working fishing harbour. Dogs, smoking, alcohol and naturism banned on Marseille beaches; no diving from over 3 m
- 13°J
- 13°F
- 13°M
- 14°A
- 16°M
- 19°J
- 21°J
- 22°A
- 21°S
- 19°O
- 17°N
- 15°D
Expect the sea at about 22 °C in August and 13 °C in January, going by the 1991 to 2020 averages. The swimming season runs from June to October.
Getting in
- Access
- The tourist office says there is no beach: people swim under the arches at what locals call the piscine du Vallon, which is not supervised, or climb the rocks to deeper water. The city lists the Vallon des Auffes among its unsupervised bathing zones. Bus 83 runs along the Corniche Kennedy above the harbour. Not lifeguarded. Working fishing harbour. Dogs banned all year on all Marseille bathing zones; smoking, alcohol, loud music and naturism banned on Marseille beaches; dives from more than 3 m off rocks, quays and cliffs banned along the whole Marseille coast.
- Public transport
- RTM bus 83, about 15 minutes from the Vieux-Port and 25 minutes from the Prado beaches.
Cost and facilities
- Entry
- Free, public shore
- Official site
- marseille-tourisme.com
- Facilities
- Restaurant