This article addresses environmental conflictuality in the Calanques area in the south of France, which has been a National Park since 2012. Our work draws on two disciplinary fields – economic history and social geography – to shed light on the frictions, their interaction and the factors behind them from the 19th century to today. By taking the historical legacy into consideration, we have a better understanding of the complexity of the motivations for current disputes. This study is based on a mostly discursive analysis with which we have identified endogenous and exogenous conflicts. This contribution also provides an opportunity to take a new look at conflict situations within a broader timeframe, to assess whether there are interactions between one conflict and another and to appreciate the determining role of situations external to the Calanques in conflictual processes, reminding us of the close links between neighbouring urban areas and the National Park.