Sausset les Pins is located on the sea front, along the Côte Bleue and is a pretty fishing port. Only about 40 kilometres away from Marseilles, it is a charming village surrounded by the aromatic garrigue (scrubland) and pine forests.

The village lies in an area of exceptional natural beauty between the sea and pine forests. You’ll fall in love with its charming port, overlooked by a 19th-century château (Château Charles Roux), its little pedestrian streets, its outdoor cafés with views over the harbour, its lively market and its air of simplicity, a far cry from the glamour of the Côte d’Azur.

Over the years, Sausset has developed from a small fishing village with scarcely 200 inhabitants to become a small, family seaside resort. Little by little, the number of houses has increased and extensive building has taken place on the hills facing the port… Beautiful, sea-facing houses lie along the coast road, shaded by pine trees from the sun and the curiosity of passers-by.

As a stopping-off point between Cap Couronne to the west and Cap Méjean to the east, the port with its 500 moorings shelters both sailing and fishing boats. True to its traditions, fishing provides Sausset’s main focus, from highly competitive tuna fishing on the high seas to traditional coastal fishing for rock fish. Sardine and tuna festivals and fishing competitions enliven the port throughout the summer months and in January there are shellfish and sea urchin festivals.

Sausset les Pins stretches along the coast in a succession of small creeks, white, shingly beaches and tiny rocky inlets. You can explore them by following the old customs and excise path which winds along the coast between Marseilles and Martigues. There is a 5 km promenade which has been laid out as part of the GR51 coastal path. This is easily accessible and gives the visitor superb panoramas over the bay of Marseille and its islands.
The water here is clear and practically every kind of water sport is possible. You’ll often feel the Mistral or Tramontane and these frequent winds are good news for surfers and sailors alike.

Sausset is part of the Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue and divers can explore the depths of the sea and the artificial reefs laid out along Sausset’s coast. People who like sunbathing and lazing around will enjoy themselves on the pebbly beaches (don’t forget to bring a mat to lie on!) or in a small, peaceful inlet off the beaten track.

You can go for beautiful walks in the countryside around Sausset - in the hills, the garrigue and the pine forests overlooking the sea. The paths are waymarked and you can follow them on foot, by bike or on horseback. You’ll pass through superb, unspoilt, fragrant countryside. (Note: there is no access to the massifs in winds over 40 km per hour and from July to mid-September due to aridity and the risk of fire).

What to see :

The natural landscape: the sea, coast, inlets and garrigue

Leisure activities :

Market on Thursday morning (Place de la Mairie in winter and by the harbour in summer)
and Sunday morning (Boulevard Audibert)
Sailing, diving, fishing, surfing, boat trips out to sea
Walking, mountain biking and horse-riding
Horse riding centre. Mini golf. Tennis. Boules.
2 art galleries.
Summer events.

Some special events :

Last 3 Sundays in January: sea urchin festival, sea festival, craft fair
March: Côte Bleue plant festival
July: fishermen’s festival, sardine festival and tuna festival, craft fair
August: nautical extravaganza (14th), fishing competition
Weekend before Christmas: Salon de Noël (events and craft fair)

Accommodation :

Hotel-restaurants.
Furnished rentals.

Neighbouring villages :