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Marseille

Bouches du Rhône department
Population: 826 700 people

This name evokes a whole universe, that of Pagnol naturally but not that... All around the world the city of Marseille is synonymous of a certain way of life and naturally of a team of football !

Marseille, a very ancient but always alive town. When one thinks Marseille, one thinks sun, one thinks southerrn accent, one thinks football, one thinks pastis, one thinks fish soup...

But Marseille is not only that, Marseille is much more.

History of Marseille

Originally Marseille is a Greek town, based in 600 before JC by sailors come from Phocée. Then it became Roman to protect itself from the Celts' attacks. It is only in 1660 that Marseille, until then independent, was annexed by the realm of France.

This city has a rich and complex history, with glorious periods and darker hours. The Middle Age was the period of plunders and plague epidemics in Marseille. The town was alternately plundered by the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Francs, Saracens, Catalans and suffered 6 plague epidemics. The epidemic from 1347 till 1350 eliminated a third of the French population.

But the last big plague epidemic had place during the Renaissance in 1720 : The Big Plague. More than 1000 people a day died. Marseille stopped its commercial activities. It was difficult to get over these events. Then came the French Revolution and "the Marseillaise".

Marseille, quite simply

Marseille Provence, sea, sun and the "Bonne Mère"

At the seaside, protected by the massifs of l'Estaque, Garlaban and l'Etoile, Marseille is the second French metropolis. It is pleasent to live in Marseille, far from the clichés of metropolises, this town seems to be consisted of small quiet villages. The city extends over kilometres but has preserved numerous green spaces. It is doubtless one of the reasons which contributes to make of Marseille a city where one can feel the relaxed provençal way of life.

Marseille is a fascinating city, 26 centuries of history and exchanges with other cultures made a cosmopolitan city with busy districts. Here the southern accent sings everywhere and terraces are full for the aperitif. In front of a glass of pastis, the inhabitants of Marseille meet themselves to debate about their favourite subject : their team of football, l'Olympique de Marseille.

If you spend your holidays in Provence, go to Marseille. It is the other Provence, not far from the peaceful perched villages of the Luberon, Marseille invites you in a whirlwind of life and culture. Monuments and exhibitions, concerts, places and people. And the Mediterranean and its creeks, the Vieux Port and its fishermen, the velodrome stadium and its team, the city and its picturesque districts… There is so much in Marseille that you will spend there intense holidays.

Specialities

The bouillabaisse is the speciality of the city. Numerous restaurants suggest you should discover it. But it is not simply about fishes of cliff, soup and potatoes, with croutons and rust. A good fish soup it's quite an art, certain restaurants are specialists.

The "navettes", it is a boat-shaped and orange blossom-flavoured cookie, the inhabitants of Marseille have a feat of this greed. There are "navettes" which are perfumed with spices.

The pastis, famous southern drink, is made with anise. It is a marinade of several plants and spices. Generally one finds there mainly star anise, liquorice and badiane. But every pastis has a different taste and recipes are not revealed.

Marchés

- Markets of Marseille

Marcket of Quai des Belges
Fishes of the day
Place : Vieux Port
Day : Every day - 8 am to 1 pm

Market of Capucins
Fruits, fishes and food products
Place : Place des Capucins
Day : Every day - 8 am to 7 pm

Market of allées de Meilhan
Flowers and figures
Place : Canebière
Jour : Tuesday and Saturday - 8 am to 1 pm
Last Sunday of November to December 31st - 8 am to 7 pm

Marcket of place Carli
Ancient books and discs
Place: Ancien palais des beaux-arts
Day : Every day - 8 am to 5 pm

Market of la Plaine
Fruits and vegetables, flowers and food products
Place : Place Jean Jaurès
Days : Every day except sunday- 8 am to 1 pm

Market of Cours Julien
Philately, collections, fruits and vegetables, food products, ancient books, organic products, seconhand goods
Place : Cours Julien
Day : Every day - 8 am to 5 pm

Market of Prado
Food products, fishes, flowers, fruits and vegetables, olives, cheeses, clothes, spices
Place : Between Castellane and the roundabout of Boulevard Perier
Day : Wednesday, Friday, Saturday - 8 am to 1 pm

Monuments

Marseille Provence Cathédrale de la Major

- Cathedrale of la Major

It was built in the XIXth century, raised on an ancient Romanic cathedral. The architectural style is neo Romano Byzantine.

Place de la Major - 13002 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 90 01 82

Marseille Provence La Bonne Mère

- Notre Dame de la Garde

"La bonne mère" as call it the inhabitants of Marseille was built in the XIXth century, the statue of the virgin measures more than 9 metres and with its dominant position, takes care of Marseille.

Place Colonel Edon - 13007 Marseille
Tél. : 04 91 13 40 80

Marseille Provence Abbaye Saint-Victor

- Saint-Victor Abbey

The most ancient monument of Marseille, from the Vth century. The crypt is the first Christian place of worship in France. Go there if you love history.

3, Rue de l'Abbaye
13007 Marseille
Tél. : 04 96 11 22 60

A voir

Marseille Provence Vieux Port

- Vieux Port

Symbolic place of the city, this district is considered as the town centre of Marseille. You will always find there a merry atmosphere, animations, restaurants, and people...

Events

Useful addresses

City Hall
0 810 813 813

Police Stations
North : 04 96 16 94 00
Centre : 04 88 77 58 00
South : 04 91 17 79 50

Public care Hospitals of Marseille
uniquenumber : 04 91 38 00 00

Tourist Office
4, la canebière - 13001 Marseille
Tél : 04 91 13 89 00

Site map

Plan Marseille Carte Provence

Access

By plane >
International Marseille-Provence Airport (26,5 km)

By train >
Marseille Saint-Charles Train Station : Square Narvik - 13232 Marseille Cedex 1. Direct access underground lines 1 and 2, bus n°49.

By boat >
Port : 23, Place de la Joliette - BP 1965 - 13002 Marseille.

By car >
- North A7-A51 (towards airport, Aix en Provence, Lyon). Access : Saint-Charles Train Station, Porte d’Aix.
- Littoral A55 (towards airport, Aix en Provence, Fos sur mer, Lyon, Montpellier, Barcelone). Access : Joliette, Vieux Port.
- East A50 (vers Cassis, Toulon, Nice, Gênes). Access : Avenue de Toulon, Boulevard Rabatau.
Direct link between Littoral A55 and East A50 by the Prado-Carénage tunnel. Rate of the toll : 2,50 €