Mont Puget is a mountain, part of Marseille-Cassis calanques, located south-east of Marseille. Like most Marseille mountains, it is formed from limestone.

Mont Puget
Mont Puget from the Luminy University campus
Highest point
Elevation563 m (1,847 ft)
Coordinates43°13′19″N 05°27′31″E / 43.22194°N 5.45861°E / 43.22194; 5.45861
Geography
Mont Puget is located in France
Mont Puget
Mont Puget
France
LocationBouches-du-Rhône, France
Parent rangeCalanques de Marseille
Geology
Mountain typeLimestone

Tourism

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One of Mont Puget "stone rivers"

Often neglected by tourists, much interested by the Calanques themselves and by the sea, the Mont Puget can provide for some interesting hiking and climbing.

A very good trail leads to the very top of the mountain (like on most of Marseille mountain ranges, so that firefighters can get everywhere should a fire start).

However, one can also climb the mountain directly, which can provide many interesting experiences.

One of them are "stone rivers", or collections of numerous small stones "flowing" from the mountain at angles reaching 45 degrees.

The top of the mountain is covered with eroded limestone that sticks out in numerous needle-like spikes.

Crest of Luminy University

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A stylized representation of Mont Puget is displayed on the crest of Luminy Faculty of Sciences, part of the University of the Mediterranean Aix-Marseille II. The Luminy campus is located 1 km northwest of Mont Puget.

Name

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An urban legend insist that the mountain is named after the sculptor Pierre Puget which is a curious misconception since the mountain's name predates the sculptor on maps by several millennia. The name Puget is a diminutive from the Provençal word "puech" that originates from the Latin "podium", hence an elevated place that designates a certain eminence.

References

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  • Marseille Tourism Office Information
  • French Nationan Geographic Institute maps (for altitude figure)
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