La Ciotat is originally known for shipbuilding. Although there is now little shipyard activity, some of the old cranes are kept as nostalgia. The city has about 50,000 inhabitants and is less touristic than the other towns along the coast. The old harbor is picturesque and a nice place for a good meal – at half the price than in neighboring cities.

Nice to know

La Ciotat is historic for two reasons. The world’s first moving pictures were made here: The Lumière brothers filmed a train entering the station. Furthermore la Ciotat is the birthplace of the popular ball game Pétanque (Boules).

Route des Crêtes

There are mighty rock formations and “fjords” along the coast westward. These can be experienced by the mountain road Route des Crêtes that runs between La Ciotat and Cassis. Warning : If high winds it is dangerous to travel on the road.