View of La Ciotat

Rue Badelon towards Cinema Lumière

La Ciotat is in Bouches-du-Rhône.

Understand

La Ciotat is in the middle between Marseille and Toulon. A former shipbuilding centre, now it is a nice resort. It is often associated with Lumière Brothers and their first films.

• 1 Office de Tourisme (Tourist Office), Quai Ganteaume (near the Old Harbour), ☏ +33 4 42 08 61 32, tourismeciotat@wanadoo.fr. Summer 9h00 – 20h00 Monday to Saturday 10h00 – 13h00 Sunday and Public Holidays; Winter 9h00 - 12h00, 14h00 - 18h00 Monday to Saturday. (updated May 2015)

Get in

By train

• 2 Train station. is out of town — about 4.5 km. As a matter of fact this very station was shot in one of a very first films ever: L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat ("The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station"), made by Lumière Brothers in 1895. There is a bus from the station into the town. (updated May 2015)

By bus

• 3 Gare routière (bus station). Right at the centre of the town, near the Tourist Office. (updated May 2015)

See

Eden Theatre

Cinema Lumière

• 1 Vieux Port (Old Harbour). (updated May 2015)
• 2 Vieille Ville (Old town). There are some notable buildings are rue Adolph Abeille and the rue des Poilus (updated May 2015)
• 3 Church of Notre Dame de l'Assomption (right at the Vieux Port). built in the 17th century (updated May 2015)
• 4 Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus, Boulevard Anatole France. The 17th century currently hosts temporary exhibitions. (updated May 2015)
• 5 Eden Théâtre, Boulevard Georges Clémenceau, ☏ +33 4 42 83 89 05. Opened 16 June 1889, perhaps the oldest working cinema theatre in the world. (updated May 2015)
• 6 Musée Ciotaden, 1, quai Ganteaume, ☏ +33 4 42 71 40 99, contact@muséeciotaden.org. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; In summer: from 1 July to 31 August, 16:00 to 19:00; In winter: from 1 September to 30 June 15:00 to 18:00. Adults: 3.5 € - Children accompanied: Free up to 12 years. (updated May 2015)
• 7 Covered Market, place Evariste-Gras. A restored building of a former market, now hosts a Cinema Frères Lumière (Lumière Brothers cinema). There is also a nice square and a small street on its NW side. (updated Jul 2015)

Do

A calanque at the South of Parc du Mugel

• 1 Parc du Mugel (at the W coast of calanque Mugel), ☏ +33 4 42 08 61 32, b.girardin@mairie-laciotat.fr. From April 1 to September 30 from 8:00 to 20:00; from October 1 to March 31 from 9:00 to 18:00. It is a municipal park and botanical garden. The park is listed among the Notable Gardens of France. There are also some nice trails leading to calanques (characteristic coves) — well worth exploring. free. (updated May 2015)
• 2 L'Ile Verte (Green Island). Between April and October there is a ferry service to the island. (updated May 2015)

Eat

• 1 Le Napoleon, 31, Quai Francois Mitterrand (Vieux Port), ☏ +33 4 42 82 37 03. simple, but reasonably good food, presumably Corsican. (updated Jul 2015)
• 2 La Tete d'Ail, 13, Boulevard Anatole France, ☏ +33 4 42 36 99 20. "Head of garlic" -- nice food with a bit of creativity. (updated Jul 2015)

Go next

• Cassis
• Bandol