Calanques National Park reopens Callelongue semaphore on 8 October
Published on 10/21/2026 at 10:59 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSRestoration and first visits
- The park authority inaugurated the restored Callelongue semaphore on 8 October 2026.
- Ecoguards will welcome visitors inside the building on 24 October 2026.
- The semaphore was built in 1863 and stands 109 metres above Callelongue cove.
- Bus lines 19 and 20 connect Marseille with the trailhead at Callelongue.
Calanques National Park reopened the restored Callelongue semaphore on 8 October 2026, bringing a historic coastal lookout above Marseille back into occasional public use. The building, restored after almost ten years of work, is part of the park’s programme of public visits during October.
Callelongue semaphore opens after restoration
The park authority completed the restoration of the semaphore and the walking trail leading to it. The official announcement on 8 October 2026 says that the building can now receive visitors and school groups for occasional visits, with interpretation panels explaining the area’s natural and cultural heritage.
The first public dates were set for 19 October 2026 from 1pm to 4pm and 24 October 2026 from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Ecoguards will welcome visitors inside the building and present its history. The programme is linked to the wider autumn events programme in the Calanques, but the semaphore reopening is a separate change to access at the site. Details of the restoration and the first visits appear in the official restoration announcement.
A 1863 lookout above Callelongue cove
The semaphore was built in 1863 and stands 109 metres above Callelongue cove. The state entrusted the long-abandoned building to the park in 2015, after which several phases of work addressed the structure and the access route.
The latest works restored damaged facades and added doors, windows and shutters to protect the interior from severe coastal conditions. The former mule track to the building was also rehabilitated after becoming impracticable. In addition, some informal paths were filled and closed to reduce public wandering and protect habitats.
The restored interior now includes interpretation devices about the natural and cultural heritage of the coast, including information on the landscapes and underwater wrecks. From the terrace, visitors can look towards Marseille and its islands. The reopening therefore connects the building’s maritime history with the park’s current work on biodiversity education, rather than offering only a restored structure.
October visits link maritime history with nature
The broadcaster France 3 reported on 12 October 2026 that the restored semaphore would open to visitors on an occasional basis and receive school groups. The report also places the building in Marseille’s eighth arrondissement, above the cove and overlooking the Riou archipelago.
The interior is not presented as a permanently open attraction. Instead, the announced visits provide specific opportunities to enter the building with ecoguards, while the restored trail forms the approach through the coastal landscape. The France 3 report on the reopening describes the site’s new role as a place for environmental and historical transmission.
Visiting Calanques National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The announced public dates are 19 October 2026 from 1pm to 4pm and 24 October 2026 from 9.30am to 12.30pm at the Callelongue semaphore.
- The building is available for occasional visits with ecoguards, while the rehabilitated trail provides access through the coastal landscape.
- From Marseille, public transport uses bus line 19 from Castellane to Madrague de Montredon, followed by bus line 20 to Callelongue.
- The approach follows a former mule track to a building 109 metres above the cove, so suitable walking shoes, water and sun protection are advised by the operator.
- The site is in Marseille’s eighth arrondissement, beside the southern coastal area and opposite views towards the Riou archipelago.
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Frequently asked questions about Calanques National Park
When can visitors enter the Callelongue semaphore?
The announced public visit is on 24 October 2026 from 9.30am to 12.30pm, with an earlier visit held on 19 October 2026.
What changed at Calanques National Park?
The Callelongue semaphore and its former mule-track approach were restored, allowing occasional public and school visits after almost ten years of work.
Where is Calanques National Park and how do you get there?
The semaphore is above Callelongue in Marseille’s eighth arrondissement. Bus lines 19 and 20 connect Castellane and Callelongue via Madrague de Montredon.
