With a busy harbor and a vibrant urban energy, Marseilles appeals to visitors seeking an authentic tourist experience. This cosmopolitan city is France's oldest and the second largest after Paris and has much to offer, from ancient history and cultural diversity to gorgeous seaside scenery. Everywhere in Marseille, visitors are close to the serene blue waters-whether walking along a charming old street with a view, or feeling the refreshing sea breeze. The city's colorful, multiethnic heritage also makes Marseille a fascinating place. Considered the bridge betweenEurope and North Africa, Marseille is home to a sizable emigrant population from Algeria. It's possible to find traditional Arab souks as easily as a classic French bouillabaisse.
1 Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde
In a breathtaking hilltop location, this spectacular church stands on the summit of Marseille as its most important landmark, visible from afar. The site was used in ancient times as an observation point, and during the Middle Ages, was the location of a pilgrimage chapel. Today, the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde is a beacon for the faithful, with an enormous gilded Madonna crowning the belfry. Built in 1853-1864, the church features an opulent Neo-Byzantine-style interior of light and dark marble arches supporting gilded mosaic cupolas. The lavish design has a mesmerizing effect. In the crypt, there are votive tablets and model aircraft given by aviators. After seeing the interior, visitors can spend time on the splendid terrace. Offering a marvelous view, the panorama extends from the red roof tops of Marseilles' buildings and the old harbor, all the way to the Frioul Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
Address: Rue Fort du Sanctuaire, Marseilles
2 Basilique Saint-Victor
Dedicated to the martyr Saint Victor, this house of worship once belonged to an abbey founded in the 5th century. The foreboding exterior has the feel of a medieval fortress, and the church has a special aura because of its ancient beginnings. The foundations of the church date back to Early Christian and Carolingian times, although the turreted towers are from the 11th and 14th century. In the crypt, there is the original catacomb chapel and the Grotto of Saint Victor. The basilica also has a 13th-century Black Madonna. Being one of the oldest buildings in Marseille that is still intact, the Basilica Saint is a must-see tourist attraction.
Address: 3 Rue de l'Abbaye, Marseilles
Official site: http://www.saintvictor.net/?lang=en
3 Vieux Port (Old Harbor)
The Vieux Port represents the birthplace of Marseilles. This is where the city began as a Greek port around 600 BC. Surrounded by serene blue waters, the Old Port is located in the west of Marseilles near the Canebière boulevard. A stroll around this ancient harbor gives visitors a feel for the thriving Mediterranean atmosphere of Marseilles. The lively waterfront is a focal point for tourists, and many say that this area is the best place to find authentic bouillabaisse, the flavorful seafood stew that is a specialty of Marseille. On the east side of the harbor, the Quai des Belges hosts a fish market every morning. Once an important commercial port, the Vieux Port is now used primarily by fishing boats and sports craft. The Old Port is also the launching point for the ferries that sail to two popular tourist destinations: the Château d'If and the Calanques near Cassis.
4 Le Panier (Old Town)
Splendidly situated on a hillside above the Vieux Port, this colorful neighborhood is the historic center and cultural heart of Marseille. Le Panier is Marseille's oldest quarter, inhabited since antiquity when the ancient Greeks settled here in 600 BC. With its steep, narrow winding streets and quaint pastel buildings, this quarter offers a glimpse into the charming personality of Marseilles. Once a working class neighborhood, Le Panier is now gentrified, but still has a fascinating multiethnic and artistic character. You'll find plenty of authentic Algerian cuisine, local artisan boutiques, gourmet food shops, and art galleries. This quarter is also a residential neighborhood, and the typical houses with shuttered window and lines of laundry provide evidence of the families who live there. Visitors may begin a walking tour on the north side of the Vieux Port harbor basin at the Quai du Port and then walk up La Canebière, a vibrant boulevard that buzzes with activity. The quarter has several important monuments such as theHôtel de Ville (Town Hall), which was built in the second half of the 17th century based on a Genoese architectural model. Other landmarks include the Cathédrale de la Major and theVieille Charité, which has a museum with interesting contemporary art exhibits.
5 MuCEM (Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée)
A stunning complex of three different sites, this expansive museum features a wealth of discoveries. Through the museum's galleries as well as lectures and film screenings, visitors can explore the history of Mediterranean civilization. The newest part of the museum is built on the former J4 Pier by the architect Rudy Ricciotti. This section addresses themes such as the invention of gods, the treasures of the spice route, the visions of Jerusalem, and the seven wonders of the world. The second stage of the museum is located in the vaulted rooms of the Fort Saint-Jean, a historic monument that dates back to the 12th century. The Fort Saint-Jean also has spectacular Mediterranean gardens accessible by a suspended footbridge over the sea. Here, visitors can enjoy a scenic stroll and take in the panoramic views of the coastline. The third site is the Conservation Center (located in the Belle de Mai quarter), which offers a behind-the-scenes look into the work of the museum.
Address: 7 Promenade Robert Laffont, Marseilles
Official site: http://www.mucem.org/en
6 Château d'If
The Château d'If is a worthwhile attraction because of its history and natural setting. A short ferry ride away from the port of Marseilles, the Château d'If is located on the Ile d'If in the Frioul Islands archipelago, a nature conservation area that includes the tiny islands of If, Pomègues, Ratonneau, and Tiboulen. The scenery is spectacular with protected coves, turquoise waters, pristine beaches, sandy creeks, and impressive limestone cliffs. Thanks to the Mediterranean sunshine, the light creates a spectacular effect on the water, and a microclimate allows rare floral species to flourish. In this beautiful location, the Château d'If was built as a fortress by King François I in the 16th century. Soon after, the fortress was converted into a prison. In the 17th century, when Protestants were still imprisoned en masse, the Château d'If provided relatively decent conditions for those imprisoned here. The setting was also featured in Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo.
7 Musée d'Histoire de Marseille (History Museum)
In Le Panier quarter, just a few steps away from the Vieux Port, the Musée d'Histoire de Marseille tells the story of Marseilles from its Gallo-Greek origins through the Middle Ages to the present day. Fitting for the oldest city in France, this museum offers an impressive collection of historical artifacts. The extensive collection covers 2,600 years of history. Housed in a sleek modern building, the collections come to life in the museum's bright spacious rooms. One of the highlights of the collection is the hull of a third-century Roman ship. The museum also has a park, the Jardin des Vestiges, which is an open-air museum for an excavation site. In the gardens, visitors can see the ruins of the ancient port of Massalia from the third-century BC.
Address: 2 Rue Henri-Barbusse, Marseilles
8 Vieille Charité
The Vieille Charité is located on the Place des Moulins that lies at the highest point in Le Panier. The building was created in 1640 when the Marseille Town Council decided to give the poor local inhabitants a decent place to reside, in compliance with a royal policy of "enclosing the poor." In 1749, a three-floor public hospital with four wings was added to the building. There is a chapel at the center courtyard of the hospital complex. Built from 1679 to 1707, the chapel is a wonderful example of Italian baroque architecture. The facade of the Vieille Charité is more modern, dating from 1863. Upon close observation, visitors will notice the depiction of two pelicans feeding their young, to represent Charity looking after poor children. Since 1986, the Vieille Charité building has been used to host scientific and cultural events and to house a museum, the Centre de la Vieille Charité. This museum offers excellent contemporary art exhibitions throughout the year.
Address: 2 Rue de la Charité, Marseilles
9 Cathédrale de la Major
Beside the sea on a terrace in the northwest of the Le Panier quarter, the Cathédrale de la Major of Marseille boasts a picturesque location fitting of this port city. The mighty cathedral stands high above the port installations, with its impressive domed towers-the highest rising 16 meters. Constructed between 1852 and 1893 using a mixture of white and green limestone, the Cathedral blends Romanesque and Byzantine styles to a harmonious effect. The interior is richly decorated with marble and mosaic; in the crypt lie the tombs of the Bishops of Marseilles. With a length of 141 meters, the Cathédrale de la Major is the largest ecclesiastical building created in the 19th century.
Address: Place de la Major, Marseille
10 Cours Belsunce to Place de Castellane
The Cours Belsunce is a wide esplanade designed in the 17th century as a place for residents to enjoy leisurely strolls. Named in memory of the Bishop Belsunce, who was well regarded during the Great Plague of 1720, the expansive street also became an important route to transport goods from the Orient through Marseille to Paris. The Cours Belsunce crosses the Cours Saint-Louis where flower market vendors sell bouquets from beautiful cast-iron kiosks. It is a tradition of Marseille actors to buy a rose for good luck. Nearby is the Musée Cantini, a museum that specializes in modern art, and the monumental Fountain de Cantini at the Place de Castellane. Another attraction is the Foire à l'Ail (Garlic Festival), held on the Cours Belsunce every year from 15 June to 14 July.
Festivals
FIDMarseille (International Documentary Film Festival) in July
This annual festival is held every year in early July. The FIDMarseille, Marseille's International Film Festival, features a program of 130 documentary films and draws approximately 23,000 spectators. The screenings take place in cinemas, libraries, art galleries, and open-air theaters throughout the city. Many of the films are world premieres, and the festival is an important event for new documentary cinema. The FIDMarseille also has a campus that functions as a training workshop for film students.
Address: VidéoFID, 14 Allée Léon Gambetta, Marseille
Official site: http://www.fidmarseille.org/index.php/en
Festival de Marseille (Dance and Performance Arts) in June - July
This international dance and performance arts festival was created to make culture accessible to the widest possible audience. Although the focus of the festival is dance, the programing also includes other types of performance art as well as art workshops. The repertoire includes a wide variety of different genres from ballet and contemporary dance to whimsical puppet shows.
Address: Le Silo, 35 Quai du Lazaret, Marseilles
Official site: http://festivaldemarseille.com/en
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