# La Ciotat, Marseille > La Ciotat is a port town 25 kilometres east of Marseille where cinema was born: in 1895 the Lumière brothers filmed The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat here, along with the first film comedy. Pétanque was invented here too, in 1907. The town has a sandy beach, an old port with shipyards, the Mugel garden under the Eagle's Beak rock, and above it Cap Canaille and the panoramic Route des Crêtes to Cassis. Give La Ciotat half a day or a day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/la-ciotat - City: [Marseille](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille), France - YesGo score: 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Opening hours: Town always open; Parc du Mugel by day - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Town and Parc du Mugel free - From Marseille: ≈ 25 km; train ≈ 30–35 minutes - Beach: Sandy, in the town centre - Pétanque: Invented here in 1907 - Duration: ≈ half a day to a day - Location: Between Cassis and Toulon - Coordinates: 43.17611, 5.60806 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1895** — the Lumières filmed The Arrival of a Train (source: English Wikipedia) - **1907** — pétanque invented here (source: English Wikipedia) - **155 m** — height of the Eagle's Beak rock (source: English Wikipedia) - **1429** — La Ciotat became a free commune (source: English Wikipedia) ## About La Ciotat La Ciotat is a seaside town halfway between Marseille and Toulon. Its name simply means 'The City' in Provençal. In the 15th century Genoese settlers arrived and built a **shipyard**: ships carried out olive oil, wine and soap and came back with silks, spices and porcelain. Shipbuilding long remained the town's main trade, and the yard's huge cranes still stand over the port. La Ciotat's world fame comes from the **Lumière brothers**, who had a summer villa here. In 1895 they filmed The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat, one of the first films ever made, and L'Arroseur arrosé, the first film comedy. Here too, in 1904, they made their first colour photographs. ## What to see - **The old port** — the waterfront, shipyards and cafés. - **Parc du Mugel** — a garden beneath the Eagle's Beak rock. - **The sandy beach** — central and good for children. - **The Lumière station** — where the first film was shot. - **Musée Ciotaden** — the history of the town and pétanque. - **Route des Crêtes** — the panorama from Cap Canaille. ## Town of cinema and pétanque La Ciotat is proud to be the **cradle of cinema**. It hosts film festivals, Lumière markers dot the town, and at the station you can stand on the very platform where, in 1895, a train pulled in and, legend says, startled the first audiences. The town also has the historic Eden cinema, linked to the Lumières' early screenings. Its other claim to fame is **pétanque**. In 1907 a local player, Jules Le Noir, who couldn't take a run-up because of illness, suggested throwing the boules from a standing position, and so a game now played all over France was born. The first tournament was held here in 1910, and the **Musée Ciotaden** tells the story. > **Don't miss** Be sure to walk to the **Parc du Mugel** by the Anse du Petit Mugel: one of France's 'Remarkable Gardens', tucked beneath the russet **Eagle's Beak** rock (Bec de l'Aigle), 155 metres high. It has tropical plants and a reserve of native Provençal flora, and a little cove for swimming next door. ## Beaches and coves Unlike its rocky neighbours, La Ciotat has a long **sandy beach** right in the centre, shelving gently, good for children, and looking out over the bay. A promenade of hotels, cafés and restaurants runs alongside. Wilder spots are the coves of **Mugel** and **Figuerolles**, with clear water under the cliffs. In summer boats run from the port to the little green island facing the town, for swimming and walks along its paths. ## Cap Canaille and the Route des Crêtes Between La Ciotat and Cassis, **Cap Canaille** rises 394 metres above the sea, one of Europe's highest sea cliffs. Along its ridge runs the **Route des Crêtes**, whose viewpoints look over La Ciotat, the bay, the islands and the coves of Cassis. It's best driven by car or taxi; in summer it closes on windy days and when fire risk is high. A footpath follows the ridge too, but it's long and exposed, so carry water. ## How to get there 1. By train from Marseille Saint-Charles to La Ciotat station, 30–35 minutes. 2. From the station to the port, town buses no. 10, 21 or 40. 3. From Cassis, by car over the Route des Crêtes, ≈ 30 minutes. 4. By car from Marseille, 40 minutes on the motorway. ## Tips for your visit Allow half a day for La Ciotat, a full day with the beach and the Mugel garden. Stroll the port and old streets in the morning, head for the park and cove at midday, and the sandy beach in the evening. La Ciotat pairs naturally with [Cassis](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/cassis), linked by the Route des Crêtes, and with the coves of the [Calanques](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/calanques). The station is far from the centre, so check the bus times. The beach and promenade are flat and pushchair-friendly; the coves are reached by paths and steps. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Watch The Arrival of a Train beforehand - [ ] Walk to the Parc du Mugel - [ ] Photograph the Eagle's Beak - [ ] Swim at the sandy beach - [ ] Drive the Route des Crêtes ## Places in Marseille: compare and choose Places in Marseille rated by YesGo. - [Frioul islands](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/frioul-islands) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free; boat by ticket - [Cassis](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/cassis) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free - [Calanques](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/calanques) — YesGo score 23/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free; Sugiton by booking in summer - [Martigues](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/martigues) — YesGo score 23/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h 30 min · Free - [La Ciotat](https://yesgo.io/france/marseille/la-ciotat) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free ## Don't mix it up La Ciotat is the town between Cassis and Toulon; Cassis is the neighbouring Calanques town on the other side of Cap Canaille. ## Tips - The beach is sandy. - Don't miss the Mugel garden. - Drive the Route des Crêtes. - 30 minutes by train. ## Questions ### How do I get to La Ciotat from Marseille? By train from Saint-Charles in 30–35 minutes. ### What is there to see in La Ciotat? The old port, the Parc du Mugel under the Eagle's Beak, the beach and the Lumière station. ### Why is La Ciotat called the birthplace of cinema? The Lumières filmed The Arrival of a Train and the first comedy here in 1895. ### Does La Ciotat have a sandy beach? Yes, in the town centre, with a gentle slope. ### Where was pétanque invented? In La Ciotat, in 1907. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Park hours, transport times and road closures weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: La Ciotat - La Ciotat tourist office, laciotat-tourisme.com --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.