Le Rove combines protected landscapes with places whose history dates back to the Bronze Age and the Middle Ages. When planning a stay, it is easy to distinguish between the highlights: trails and natural areas around the CĂ´te Bleue on the one hand, and archaeological sites, a chapel and historic infrastructure on the other. Brousse du Rove adds a local culinary connection.
CĂ´te Bleue: Landscape and Nature
In Le Rove, 87 percent of the municipal area lies within a protected landscape. This amounts to about 2,000 of a total of 2,300 hectares. The CĂ´te Bleue area is classified as the Massif de la Nerthe protected landscape and is also part of a Natura 2000 site. The municipality of Le Rove is also part of the publicly accessible CĂ´te Bleue area.
A pair of Bonelli’s eagles nests in the Côte Bleue area, which includes Le Rove. The birds have a dedicated 113-hectare protection zone; the relevant protection order was signed in 2018. You can explore the natural area on foot or by mountain bike. Seasonal fire-prevention restrictions may affect access.
Hiking and Getting to Niolon
The hike to discover Niolon, its fort and the Calanque de La Vesse is rated easy. It starts at a trailhead accessible by train and can be reached on the TER line from Marseille to Miramas via Port-de-Bouc. A route description updated in April 2023 lists the hike as possible year-round in favorable weather. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable before departure.
A 200-meter detour offers an external view of the lower part of Fort de Niolon. A 3.5-kilometer dirt track through the garrigue also leads to the fort; local access conditions may vary. A road also leads to the Calanques de La Vesse and de Niolon. Conditions on this road may change during the fire-prevention season.
The natural area’s trails are suitable for both hiking and mountain biking; seasonal fire-prevention restrictions are relevant to access. Diving is the main activity at the UCPA Niolon Center. So, alongside hiking, nature and diving offer different options to consider when planning your stay.
Chapel, Bronze Age and Historic Buildings
The Chapelle Saint-Michel dates from the 12th to 13th century and is considered one of the earliest examples of Gothic art. The site was listed as a historic monument on July 29, 1977. Its medieval origins distinguish it from the much older remains at Camp de Laure.
Camp de Laure is the only fortified settlement in southern France with stone defensive walls dating from the Bronze Age. Excavations uncovered part of the rampart and characteristic Bell Beaker pottery. This site was also listed as a historic monument, on January 15, 1997.
Another historic destination is Fort de Niolon, built in the late 1880s at a site 193 meters above sea level. The Tunnel du Rove represents a different kind of infrastructure history. It is the only underground maritime passage connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Étang de Berre. The tunnel was originally intended to connect the large port of Marseille via the Rhône to the waterways of northern France.
Brousse du Rove
Local food culture also offers a distinctive connection to the area. Brousse du Rove received AOC status in 2018. Traditionally, it is eaten sweet, with jam or orange blossom water, or savory, with a drizzle of olive oil. This regional specialty complements the nature and culture that shape a stay in Le Rove.
Discover more destinations: Peypin, Auriol, Saint-Martin-De-Crau, Carnoux, Mouriès, Châteauneuf-Les-Martigues, Eyguières, Chateaurenard
For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
