Martigues — Provençal Venice: private taxi tour

I am often called for this short but refreshing tour, to be done at a relaxed pace. Martigues, the Provençal Venice, is crossed by three canals linking the Mediterranean to the Étang de Berre, and it has inspired generations of painters. We start with the Île de Brescon, the historic heart of the town. The Miroir aux Oiseaux, a small canal lined with pastel houses and colourful boats, is one of the most photographed sites in Provence. I like to stop there for a few minutes, listen to the gulls and watch the reflections. Then the Sainte-Madeleine church, a 17th-century Baroque gem with its painted ceiling and gilded altarpieces, standing in the very centre of the island. Finally the Ferrières district, around the old fishing harbour. The fishermen's coloured cabins on stilts, the moored boats, the smell of drying fish: this is where you understand that Martigues remained a real port before becoming a postcard. A quiet return in five minutes. Call +33 6 98 46 63 34.