National parks near Marseille

Marseille is ringed by Provencal parks. The Camargue, with flamingos, white horses and salt flats, is an hour west; the Alpilles and the Luberon, with their hill villages and lavender, an hour north; and the Verdon gorge two hours north-east. Port-Cros is reached by boat from Hyeres. On the city's own doorstep is the Calanques National Park, not yet in the catalogue, where access to some coves is restricted in summer.