A walk to explore
the coastline and its biodiversity

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Article written by B. Bu of the newspaper *La Provence*.

Annick Girardin, the Minister for the Sea, was in Vitrolles on Thursday, January 27, 2022, to reaffirm the government’s commitment to supporting municipalities in the development of the coastal trail. Some of these trails are currently managed by the Conservatoire du littoral, but very often it is the cities and local authorities that continue to develop and maintain them. The Vitrolles City Council has thus been able to extend its coastal trail from Les Salins du Lion to Rognac, passing through Marettes Beach near Marina Plage. In France, the shoreline is public property, meaning that a coastal trail must be accessible to everyone. This is the walk toward the Salins Natural Bird Sanctuary that Jean-Luc and his large family, who have come from the Vosges, are planning to take: “With my wife, my daughter, my son-in-law, and my six grandchildren, we’ve rented a very large bungalow at the campground for a week. This is our first trip here, and certainly not our last; the location is magnificent, and we’ll take the opportunity to visit Marseille and the surrounding area while enjoying the free activities for the kids, who love animals—and with the circus, the wildlife park, and the camel rides, they’re in heaven. We’re all going to take a pedal boat ride on the lake before heading out into the cool evening air toward the bird sanctuary.”
The operation of these salt marshes dates back to the year 822 and ceased in 1955. Young Nolan and his twin brother will be surprised to learn that during migration seasons, nearly 250 bird species have been recorded by the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), including flamingos, swans, great cormorants, and kingfishers—though they’ll likely be a bit disappointed that they can’t photograph them all. Luca, meanwhile, returns from this walk, delighted: “I took the opportunity to stop at the well-maintained Marettes Beach. However, while the trail offers a complete change of scenery that’s hard to imagine so close to an airport, it’s unfortunate to pass by nearly four or five shacks that are completely in ruins and crumbling under piles of rubble. I don’t understand why the owners or the municipality don’t clean up the site to make it more pleasant.”
With the old village and its rock, the coastal trail has become a sight that tourists at the Marina discover with great pleasure.

During the season, check out a new article about our campground every week in the newspaper *La Provence*!