“When you come to Marseille, you have the impression you’re in a place with freedom”. Matthieu Gamet
The sunshine capital of France has had a makeover recently, meaning that there’s no better time to visit. For a foreigner, the first things that come to mind about Marseille might be The French Connection, national hymns and Zinedine Zidane. But the city has so much to offer than these dubious claims to fame.
Sometimes called the French Texas, Marseille is a long way, literally and metaphorically, from the metropolitan refinement of Paris. Nestled between Provencal fishing villages, the city has been a commercial port for thousands of years, thanks to its proximity to Africa. African immigration has made for an unusually rich local culture.
Marseille cuisine is simple and garlicky. Be sure to try bouillabaisse, its famous fish soup. Grand 19th-century buildings loom over the central Street of the Republic. Brutalist masterpieces stand watch over the Vieux Port, the hub of city life. Marvel at Notre Dame Cathedral (not to be confused with that Notre Dame) and the island castle of Chateau d’If. Mediterranean-blue sea joins dramatic cliff formations at the Massif des Calanques, a nearby national park. The Mucem is a leading museum of modern art, the Palais Longchamp a grand and elegant garden.
Approach Marseille with an open mind, and you’ll be rewarded.
Places to Stay:
The Old Port harbours some of the most spine-tingling sights that Southern...
The Neo-Byzantine Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde (Basilica of Our Lady of...
The Parc du 26ème Centenaire was made to honour the 26 centuries of...
Open all year round, the Prado Seaside Park is the biggest and best-known...
Parc Borély is one of the oldest parks in Marseille and is just beside the...
The Émile Duclaux Garden has great views of the coast and the old town of...
The oldest public park in Marseille, Jardin de la Colline Puget is on a hill,...
Charming store in the area of the Old Port specializing in traditional...
La Boulangerie Aixoise is one of the cosiest bakeries in the area of the Old...
National museum in the heart of the city devoted to the cultures of the...
An exotic park on a hill which offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean...
This is a huge and magnificent park at the southern end of the city which...
The museum is dedicated to the fine arts of 16th-19th centuries and occupies...
Un été en vacances is a quirky concept store in the Old Port specialising in...
Stunning park which consists the majestic Palais Longchamp (Longchamp palace).
A museum dedicated to natural history located in the right wing of Palais...