If you are looking for a quiet retreat along the French Mediterranean, L’Escale B&B Cassis is a lovely chambre d’hôtes (a French version of the bed and breakfast) housed in a 1930s villa which has been recently renovated. What I like about L’Escale B&B Cassis is the location: 50 metres above the crystal blue waters of a quiet little cove with views onto Cap Canaille in a calm residential neighbourhood. Although Cassis was once a small fishing village and retains its charming character at least by the old port, its surroundings have been terribly overbuilt with apartments, villas and hotels. Not everything has been spoiled but you have to be careful where you stay. A B&B such as L’Escale that is very close to and overlooks the sea is one of the best options.
L’Escale offers two junior suites and two standard rooms, creating an intimate atmosphere. All rooms include private bathrooms and toilets. La Colonel and Les Arcades, the junior suites, have a private terrace and are decorated in warm, soothing colors such as deep red and a muted gold. Here, you can enjoy a quiet breakfast all while looking out upon the cliff side and sea below. Sun beds and an umbrella can be found here for time to be spent in the sun. And, to add to the décor, a fountain full of water and a summer kitchen are located in Les Arcades, while La Colonel features a table and chairs on the terrace, as well as a king-sized bed. Both of these also include a refrigerator, air conditioning, a television and direct access to the Jacuzzi located outside.
Bright light flows into the two standard rooms via curved windows, with white windowed shutters. Air conditioning and a television are among the two amenities featured in these bright, generally spacious rooms. Rates for the standard rooms start at 110 EUR; for the junior suites, 130 EUR.
Breakfast at the hotel includes coffee, chocolate, teas, fresh fruit, yogurt, cheese and cereal. If you are staying in a Standard room, you can have breakfast on the south-east terrace that overlooks the Cap Canaille. Per request, the morning meal can be served earlier.
And while relaxing at the hotel may seem like the most enticing option, don’t miss the activities around the area. You can play tennis, kayak, visit museums, hike on the cliffs above the calanques (coves) and swim along the beaches below. L’Escale Cassis will provide snorkeling equipment, beach mattresses and towels. In Cassis, you can meander through the narrow streets of the old port and the town, and shop in local markets, or simply have a drink or coffee in one of the many cafes.
Cassis is only 20 kilometres east of Marseille, so it is easy to reach by car (if you rent from the airport or the Marseille TGV station).
L’Escale B&B Cassis
3 Avenue Jean Jacques Garcin
13260 Cassis, France
+33 (0)4 42 01 27 69
About Brittany Trevick
