The Martégal coastline

Located at the extreme south-west of La Nerthe peninsula, the shelly limestone quarries (tender pink rock) in La Couronne are well known for having provided stone for Marseille constructions at different times.Baou Tailla means hewn cliff. The activity of quarrymen marked the landscape around the village of La Couronne and Carro, the small port from where materials were sent to Marseille for constructions like the Vieille Charité and the town hall. From Antiquity to the middle of the 19th century, passing through Roman and medieval times, the Martegal coast gave birth to dynasties of quarrymen. The rock there is softer than its neighbors of Cassis or Niolon. From the 4th century BC. J-C, the Greeks exploited this limestone, (shelly limestone substrate of the Miocene which is between 25 and 16 million years old), in order to build the first ramparts of Marseille. The master stone tracers formed a brotherhood called "Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Nativity", under the leadership of the village priest. Statutory rules defined the rights and duties of each, creating solidarity between the different teams of tailors. An account book was kept, listing the members of the Brotherhood, from 1788 to 1884. It reveals that their number was stable: between 75 and 85. The hard work involved in working with stone requires very precise techniques, which have evolved little since Antiquity. Using a "squad" (a tool that serves as both a pickaxe, an ax, and a hammer and weighs about 5kg), the quarryman begins by clearing the site he is going to carve. Then, it slices vertically around the piece to be extracted, standing on the block for more precision. It is a job that can take between 2 and 5 days depending on the hardness of the stone. The next step is to dig the corners: this is a delicate step because a wrong maneuver can crack the block. To detach it from the rock, iron plates are wedged on the sides, then the block is lifted using pliers. The last stage is the aquérissage (summary equalization of the blocks), consisting in removing the irregularities and preparing them for transport. Each team engraves a sign in the stone they cut to recognize it. We can also observe these signs on some walls of the church of La Couronne. The blocks were then embarked on boats, moored to mounds carved into the rocks.

The lighthouse stands at the South of La Couronne village, at the eastern entrance of Golfe de Fos.It is the only lighthouse on the Côte Bleue, between the small port of Carro to the West, and L'Estaque to the East, very close to Marseille. The building is located in a magnificent setting made up of many small coves. It was built in 1959. It is a cylindrical tower, white in its lower part and red at its top. The lighthouse has a radar antenna. Automated and guarded 24 hours a day. It has a height of 33 meters above sea level. Its luminous range is 26 nautical miles (the equivalent of 45 km). Its lighting comes from a 650 W halogen lamp and its light flashes red for 3 seconds. The red color of the headlight indicates a danger and the white color indicates a position. In the past, a sound signal emitted up to 30 miles from the coast (it no longer exists today). Today automated, the lighthouse was once inhabited by Mr. Gautier, keeper. He took care of maintenance, repairs and guarding.

Built in the 17th century. Just in front of it remains a ruin, that of the old chapel from the 12th century.It is a place called, formerly called Terre Sainte. According to a tradition, just after the death of Christ, the Palestinians tortured civilians, some of whom were released into the open Mediterranean Sea in a boat without oars and without sails. A storm will take them to the coast of Sainte-Croix. On board: Marie Jacobée, Marie Salomé, Sahra, Lazare, Marthe and Marie-Madeleine. Renowned during pilgrimages, it was customary for three brotherhoods to go there (barefoot) every May 3 and September 14 of each year to do penance. These dates correspond to the invention and exaltation of the cross. Today, you can see the remains of an old 12th century chapel, built on the site where Saint-Lazare once planted a cross. The current chapel pays homage to the country's quarry workers. Above the door, you can see the quarrymen's cross. It was invented by Father Daniel Campiano, parish priest of La Couronne and inaugurated on September 14, 1986 (Sainte-Croix feast). It represents marine ink and the squad.

Picturesque small port traditionally fishing on the Mediterranean coast. Discover the morning fish market.The port of Carro is located in the heart of the village on the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the ports of the Blue Coast. Depth: entrance (2m) - outer harbor (10m) - basin (2,5m). Maximum length of boats: 12 to 13m. It has 220 rings. You can go there for the night (15 seats, max length 13m). Charging station for electric cars at the port of Arnettes.