Marseille, France

Marseille, (Marseilles in English) is an energetic city with a long history as France's premier Mediterranean sea gateway. Louis XIV built two forts on either side of the harbor. Suspicious of Marseille's allegiances, the fort guns faced the city, rather than the water. Marseille strongly supported the French Revolution. Soldiers sang a song on the march to Paris that later became know as La Marseillaise and is today, France's national anthem.

As a port city, Marseille is the oldest and second largest city in France and has a diverse ethnicity and a lively African feel. Trade grew in the 19th century due to Marseille's proximity with North Africa, and today, Marseille is a modern, cosmopolitan city and one of France's most important ports. There are a lot of great places to stay while visiting, and Marseille hotels are charming and modern. Exciting nightclubs, fabulous restaurants, a variety of theaters, an international soccer stadium, striking monuments, and more than twenty museums await the visitor. Marseille is a fascinating city, well worth the visit.

The focal point of the city heart is the large westward-facing rectangular Old Port (Le Vieux Port). Tourists visiting Marseille will be overwhelmed by the historical attractions and glimpse of the bustling activity along streets such as the city's main thoroughfare, La Canabiere. La Canabiere stretches eastwards from the Vieux Port from Quai des Belges. Take a stroll around the old port along Quai de Rive Neuve and Quai du Port where ships have docked for more than 26 centuries and where the atmosphere, spirit, and charm of the city is at the most tangible. Climb up to the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, a huge Roman-Byzantine basilica 1 km south of the old port. Climb up to the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, a huge Romano-Byzantine basilica 1km south of the old port. Erected between 1853 and 1864, it stands on a hilltop and provides breathtaking views over the city. Two museums well worth visiting are the Centre de la Vieille Charité where exhibits are housed in a workhouse and hospice within Marseille's Panier district and dating back to the 17th century and the Musee d’Histoire de Marseille which gives a history of the city.

Take a 15-minute ferry out to the mysterious Chateau d’If which lies on an island 3.5 kilometres west of the entrance to the old port. The 16th century fortress-turned-prison is featured in Alexandre Dumas’ classic work of fiction The Count of Monte Cristo. The journey gives great views of the city and guided tours take you to the cells once occupied by various aristocratic prisoners.


Take a break from sightseeing and head for Cours Julien, just south of La Canabiere. A large pedestrian square complete with a water garden, fountains and palm trees, it is lined with some of Marseille’s trendiest cafes, restaurants and theatres. Other cafes and late-night restaurants can be found in the lively Place Thiars and the Cours Honore d’Estienne d’Orves on the south side of the old port. No trip to Marseille would be complete without tasting its most renowned dish - bouillabaisse. This is a hearty soup with three kinds of fish served in a broth with onions, tomatoes, saffron, sage and thyme. Work up an appetite by strolling in the unspoilt countryside just outside the city and swimming or scuba diving in the warm, turquoise Mediterranean.