The first Calanques National Park Visitor Centre opens early 2025
A Visitor Centre is an essential component of a natural protected area. And Calanques National Park will soon have its own! Yours... On site, you'll find out all about the extraordinary flora and fauna of the Calanques, its many habitats, its history and the challenges that this unique site faces. Permanent exhibitions, screenings, events - there'll be plenty on offer!
A heritage site once again accessible to all
The first visitor centre will take residence in an emblematic 18th-century country house, located at the very entrance to the core area of Calanques National Park in La Ciotat. Indeed, this La Ciotat heritage gem once belonged to Michel Simon, a legendary theater and movie actor of the 20th century. Michel Simon was an environmental protection pioneer as well. A large-scale project is currently underway to restore this long uninhabited site, refit its interior spaces and redevelop the rich network of hiking trails that offer spectacular views of the sea and the cliffs of La Ciotat.
Bringing this historic site back to public life is everyone's business
To celebrate nature and the memory of its former owner, Calanques National Park is inviting you, proud inhabitant of La Ciotat, lover of the Calanques or admirer of Michel Simon, to contribute to the setup of the interior exhibition spaces. Do your bit and make a donation.. (tax deductible in France)
If your subject to tax in France, 66% of your donation as an individual is deductible from your income tax: for example, a donation of 100 euros only costs you 34 euros. Make the most of it before the end of the tax year, and find out about the rewards on offer...
If you prefer to contribute by French cheque, download, print and send the donation form located on the campaign flyer below.
This crowdfunding is organised in partnership with Fondation du patrimoine.
The restoration of the Villa is also supported by the département des Bouches-du-Rhône, the plan France Relance financed by the European Union and the ministère de la Transition écologique et de la cohésion des territoires .