La Ciotat - commune in Bouches-du-Rhône, France

La Ciotat is in Bouches-du-Rhône.

Understand

La Ciotat is halfway 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.

• Office de Tourisme (Tourist Office), Quai Ganteaume (near the Old Harbour), 43.1735696°, 5.6106341°, +33 4 42 08 61 32, tourismeciotat@wanadoo.fr. Summer: M-Sa 09:00-20:00, Su and holidays 10:00-13:00; winter M-Sa 09:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00. 2015-05-29

Get in

By train

• Train station, 43.1996701°, 5.6329823°. This station was shot in one of the first films made: 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. 2015-05-29

By bus

• Gare routière (bus station), 43.1738806°, 5.6106207°. Right at the centre of the town, near the Tourist Office. 2015-05-29

Get around

See

• Vieux Port (Old Harbour), 43.1735931°, 5.6066966°. 2015-05-29
• Vieille Ville (Old town), 43.1749976°, 5.6082791°. There are some notable buildings are rue Adolph Abeille and the rue des Poilus. 2015-05-29
• Church of Notre Dame de l'Assomption, 43.1744733°, 5.6084079°. Built in the 17th century. 2015-05-29
• Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus, Boulevard Anatole France, 43.1770435°, 5.6100762°. Hosts temporary exhibitions. 2015-05-29
• Eden Théâtre, Boulevard Georges Clémenceau, 43.1773898°, 5.610441°, +33 4 42 83 89 05. Opened 16 June 1889, perhaps the oldest working cinema theatre in the world. 2015-05-29
• Musée Ciotaden, 1, quai Ganteaume, 43.1737105°, 5.6098938°, +33 4 42 71 40 99, contact@muséeciotaden.org. 1 Jul-31 Aug: W-M 16:00-19:00; 1 Sep-30 Jun: W-M 15:00-18:00. Adults €3.5, accompanied children free up to 12 years 2015-05-29
• Covered Market, place Evariste-Gras, 43.1753927°, 5.6047118°. 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. 2015-07-05

Do

• Parc du Mugel, 43.1649818°, 5.6053984°, +33 4 42 08 61 32, b.girardin@mairie-laciotat.fr. 1 Apr- 30 Sep: 08:00 to 20:00; 1 Oct-31 Mar: 09:00-18:00. 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 2015-05-29
• L'Ile Verte (Green Island), 43.1607089°, 5.6174469°. Between April and October there is a ferry service to the island. 2015-05-29

Buy

Eat

• Le Napoleon, 31, Quai Francois Mitterrand (Vieux Port), 43.1728576°, 5.605621°, +33 4 42 82 37 03. simple, but reasonably good food, presumably Corsican. 2015-07-05
• La Tete d'Ail, 13, Boulevard Anatole France, 43.175291°, 5.6102881°, +33 4 42 36 99 20. "Head of garlic" -- nice food with a bit of creativity. 2015-07-05

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Go next

• Cassis
• Bandol