It is part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the eastern end of the Canal de Caronte.

Martigues possesses also its cooperative winery "La Venise provençale": Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, rosé, red and white wines, fruit juices and natural oils in the region.

Main varietals: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Clairette.Martigues was founded by Ramon Berenguer IV, count of Provence in 1232 on the likely site of the Roman camp Maritima Avaticorum.

The Gare de Martigues railway station is served by regional trains between Miramas and Marseille.

[6] CroisiEurope runs river cruises between Martigues (dock near Avenue Louis Sammut, behind City Hall)[7] and either Lyon or Chalon-sur-Saône.