Calanques National Park opens semaphore on 24 October
Published on 10/24/2026 at 16:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSRestored access at Callelongue
- The Parc national operator welcomes visitors at Callelongue Semaphore on 24 October 2026.
- The restored building offers occasional public access, interpretation panels and a terrace overlooking Marseille.
- The semaphore was built in 1863 and stands 109 metres above Callelongue calanque.
- RTM bus 20 reaches Callelongue after bus 19 from Marseille.
Calanques National Park opens the restored Callelongue Semaphore on 24 October 2026, giving visitors in Marseille a further opportunity to see a building that had long stood abandoned. The reopening follows an inauguration on 8 October and forms part of the site’s new programme of occasional public access.
Callelongue Semaphore opens for visitors on 24 October
The park authority has set the next public opening for Saturday 24 October 2026 from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Ecoguards will welcome visitors inside the semaphore and present its history, according to the official reopening notice.
The first opening took place on Monday 19 October from 1pm to 4pm. The two October dates are the first public sessions after the restoration, rather than the start of daily opening. The building will receive visitors and school groups only on occasional dates, so the 24 October session is the relevant access point inside the current travel window.
The reopening is also listed by the Marseille district authority, which describes the two October discovery sessions and the building’s role in presenting local natural and cultural heritage.
A restored lookout above Callelongue calanque
The semaphore was built in 1863 and stands 109 metres above Callelongue calanque. The French state transferred the long-abandoned building to the park authority in 2015, after the public establishment was created, and the restoration then proceeded through several phases over nearly 10 years.
The works repaired deteriorated facades and installed doors, windows and shutters to protect the interior from severe coastal conditions. They also restored the old mule track leading to the building. Sections of informal paths were filled and closed to reduce wandering through natural areas, linking the new access arrangement directly to the protection of habitats.
Inside, interpretation material covers the natural and cultural heritage of the area. Displays include information about visible landscapes and submerged wrecks, while the outside terrace provides views towards Marseille, its islands and the wider sea. The combination of a restored nineteenth-century lookout and a controlled public programme gives the 24 October reopening a specific link to both the park’s maritime history and its conservation work.
The restoration was supported by the state, the Bouches-du-Rhône department and CMA CGM. The park authority commissioned the final works from AMAK under the direction of Talea Architecture, with interpretation developed by Le Passe Muraille and Empreinte Signalétique.
How the Callelongue access has changed
The reopening does not make the semaphore an everyday attraction. Access to the interior is tied to occasional sessions, while the surrounding viewpoint can be reached by walkers under the park’s access rules. The restored path improves the approach, but the terrain remains a coastal walking environment rather than a level urban site.
The park access guide recommends public transport from Marseille. RTM bus 19 runs towards Madrague de Montredon, followed by bus 20 towards Callelongue. Roads in the area can be difficult for cars, and parking near entrances is rare and unguarded.
Visiting Calanques National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The next public opening is at Callelongue Semaphore on Saturday 24 October 2026, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- The session provides access to the restored interior, where ecoguards present the building’s history and interpretation material.
- From Marseille, take RTM bus 19 towards Madrague de Montredon, then bus 20 towards Callelongue.
- The approach includes a restored former mule track, and informal paths around the site have been closed to protect natural habitats.
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Frequently asked questions about Calanques National Park
When does the Callelongue Semaphore reopening take place?
The next public session is on 24 October 2026 from 9.30am to 12.30pm, with ecoguards welcoming visitors.
What has changed at Calanques National Park?
The restored semaphore and its approach now support occasional public access, interpretation and school visits.
Where is Calanques National Park and how do you get there?
The Callelongue site is in Marseille. RTM bus 19 followed by bus 20 provides public transport access from the city.
