Marseille - Provence

1Terminal

This is the terminal building. The building is not very big and you have a good view of all civil aircraft which are parked at this terminal. Looking across the runways, you will see the stored aircraft and helicopter hangars of the Sécurité Civile, where the EC145s are based. For photographing aircraft, the morning is the perfect time and you can use 100mm for the aircraft in front or 300 mm for the aircraft further away on the apron.

2Parking spot

On the large parking spot, it is possible to see part of the aircraft parked in front of the terminal.

3Airbus helicopters

This is one of the Airbus parking lots. You used to be able to drive on, but nowadays the barriers are mostly down. Also, more buildings have been erected and no views of any of the ramps can be had from here anymore.

4South side approach - La Butte

This spot is also called 'La Butte' and is the ideal position to photograph the landing aircraft and aircraft on the west taxiway from a high point of view during the morning, but you will need 300 mm for landings on 31R, which is the most used runway. This spot is also a good position if you want to shoot some pictures of helicopters landing at Airbus. Views on the Airbus ramp are very limited but still some can be seen.
To get here, take the D20 from the terminal. Just past Airbus and Helisim, take the exit towards Marignane. On the slip road, park your car besides the road and climb the small rise. BEWARE because casual visitors / onlookers park here often, this attracts robbers that hit the cars here!

5South side approach - fence

You can descend the hill from spot 4, although you probably do not want to do that with your shorts on, because of the shrubbery. Better is to follow the road and just before the slip road joins the D9, park the car in the small dead end that branches off from the new roundabout, the nearby sand track is now blocked with boulders. Either way you have to walk and cannot leave your car here too long.

6Avenue Roland Corrao

As far as we know, spot 6 can now only be reached from spot 5 by foot, walking along the perimeter fence. You can also walk along the bicycle lane that runs adjacent to the new D20E bypass road. But then you will have to crosse this busy road.
Alternatively, follow the D9 and take the first exit towards Marignane. On the first roundabout, turn right towards Marignane centre. After some 150 meters there is another roundabout; take the first exit here. This is the Avenue René Dubois, with a Lidl supermarket on your right-hand side. After the road turns left, and just before reaching the next roundabout, take the small road bending back to the right. This road, Av R Corrao, now ends at the D20E, park your car. You will have to scale the barrier and cross the (very) busy D20E road towards the fenceline. This is a good spot for photographs from early p.m.; you need about 100 mm for 31L and 300 mm for 31R.

7Rue H Guillamet

As with spot 6, take exit Marignane from the D9 and past the Lidl again. But instead of turning right into the Av R Corrao, go right on the next roundabout into the Avenue Robert Ros et Emilio Romano. After some 500 meters, turn right towards the the signs of the cemetery. At the end of this Rue Henri Guillamet there is that D20E road again... Cross it and walk to the crash gate. This will give you a good view of the platforms and a good possibility to photograph during the afternoon - although slightly less compared to spot 6 - think 300 mm.

8Sécurité Civile

At this position, you are very close to the apron of the Sécurité Civile, with its EC145s.

9North side approach

At this position you are at best during the afternoon. Along the gate, there are some stored aircraft. Park your car when the road makes a left turn and walk along the water until you find a decent spot.

10West side

This is the spot to photograph all aircraft which land in a southerly direction during the morning. It is located close to the Aerogare Aviation Nationale. Park the car and walk to the fence for some shots on the taxiway and runway. Getting there, you will pass the cargo area, which is also good for some extra numbers.

11Rue d'Athènes - Carglass

From spot 4, take the bridge over the D20 highway and proceed on Avenue de Londres. After crossing the railway turn left, this would be the second left after crossing the highway. You are now on Rue d'Athènes. Drive on until you have passed Rue de Stockholm on your right and La Poste immediately on your left. Go left into the parking lot of some assorted businesses and go all the way to the far right-hand corner were Carglass is situated. You will now be able to look into some of the Super Puma / Cougar hangars. Sometimes, interesting exotic stuff is visible, but the nearest doors have to be open for that. Also, they tow around semi-assembled airframes between the hangars or pull some helos out temporarily. With views from spot 4 being increasingly blocked by buildings, this is probably the spot of choice to watch the proceedings at Airbus helicopters.

12Vitrolles

In close proximity of the airport, several 'wrecks & relics' can be found. To start with Vitrolles village: here, the Lycée Pierre Mendès on Boulevard Alfred Casile has several aircraft, including an all-white Mirage 3 which is standing outside.

13Saint-Victoret

Recently, a small museum was established in Saint-Victoret, in a former sports hall on the Boulevard Barthélemy Abbadie. On the edge of the square next to it, a CL-215 and Alouette 3 are displayed on poles. The Canadair is also just visible from spot 4.

14Marignane

Following the D9, in the centre of a roundabout an unidentified Alouette II is preserved on a pole.