Bed and breakfast in La Ciotat

The best Mediterranean recipes

La Ciotat is a seaside resort in the south of France, located on the Mediterranean Sea. It is part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department and is populated by around 35 000 inhabitants. La Ciotat is bordered by Cassis and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and covers an area of around 31 square kilometres. Every year, it is famous for hosting a major boat show lasting over a week. You won't discover any local culinary specialities as such during your holiday. However, you will have the pleasure of sampling some of the best recipes of Provençal cuisine. These include exquisite fish specialities such as cod en raïto and the famous bouillabaisse. As an aperitif, do as the locals do and share a glass of pastis, the famous aniseed-flavoured spirit. You won't be able to resist the various sweets loved by the locals and other inhabitants of Provence. These include chichi frégi, a twisted doughnut flavoured with orange blossom. Those with a sweet tooth will also delight in the navette and pompe à huile, a dessert traditionally eaten with cooked wine.

What to do in la Ciotat on holiday?

Renowned for its coastal scenery, La Ciotat is also rich in cultural and historical heritage. The Musée Ciotaden traces the town's history, highlighting, for example, the invention of the cinematograph by brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière. You can then enjoy a stroll through the picturesque streets of the historic centre. It's home to sites steeped in history such as the Place de la Liberté and the Place du 8 mai, as well as the church of Notre Dame de l'Assomption and its two unique doors. Are you looking for a relaxing holiday? Then La Ciotat is the place for you, with its beautiful beaches and picture-postcard scenery. You'll be spoilt for choice, from lively stretches of sand to wild little coves sheltered from the wind. If you had to discover just two, it would undoubtedly be the Plage du Liouquet and the Calanque du Grand Mugel! Off the coast of Plage Saint-Jean, there's a club where you can try your hand at stand-up paddling, an activity for adults and children alike. It's a great way to explore the small calanques and their unspoilt environment. Other activities to enjoy in La Ciotat include diving around the Ile Verte or a family picnic in the sumptuous Parc du Mugel.

Must-see sites around La Ciotat

When you choose a bed and breakfast in La Ciotat, you'll be living just twenty minutes or so from Marseille. There are so many tourist attractions to choose from, it's hard to get bored in Marseille! Nature lovers should head for the calanques, while history buffs will love a visit to the Mucem, just a few dozen metres from the shore. Last but not least, the Aqualand water park at Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer is a must-see, especially for those with children in tow.