France

Marseille Destination Guide:

Trivia: Located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, it is France's largest commercial port. Marseille is the largest and most populous commune in France after Paris and is the centre of the third largest metropolitan area in France.

To the east, starting in the small fishing village of Callelongue on the outskirts of Marseille and stretching as far as Cassis, are the Calanques, a rugged coastal area interspersed with small fjords.

Sailing is a major sport in Marseille. The winds can blow from different directions and allow interesting regattas in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Most of the time it can be windy while the sea remains smooth enough to allow sailing. It was considered as a possible site for 2007 Americas Cup. Marseille is also a place for other water sports such as windsurfing and powerboating.

Transport I Car Hire I Hotels I Entertainment I Food & Drink I Tourist Tips

Transport:

Ports:

Historically, the economy of Marseille was dominated by its role as a port of the French Empire, linking the North African colonies of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia with metropolitan France.

The old port now contains restaurants, offices, bars and hotels and functions mostly as a private marina. Today, the economy of Marseille is dominated by the New Port, which runs perpendicular to the Old Port, a commercial container port and a transport port for the Mediterranean sea. 100 million tons of freight pass annually through the port, making it number one in France and the Mediterranean and number three in Europe.

Marseille has a large ferry terminal, the Gare Maritime, with services to Corsica, Sardinia, Algeria and Tunisia. A ferry service on a quite different scale operates between the two opposite quays of the Old Port.

By Air:

The city is served by an international airport, Marseille Provence Airport, located in Marignane. The airport has two terminals. Terminal one, the main terminal of the airport contains halls 1,2,3 and 4 and serves as a base for international arrivals and departures. The new terminal, referred to as Marseille Mp2 is used for flights arriving and departing from Europe. A shuttle coach system operates between the airport and the railway station, Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles.

British Airways operate two services a day from London Gatwick, and Easy Jet also have a daily service.

By Car:

An extensive network of motorways connects Marseille to the north and west (A7), Aix-en-Provence in the north (A51) , Toulon (A50) and the French Riviera (A8) to the east.

By Train:

Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles is Marseille's main railway station. It operates direct regional services to cities such as Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux, as well as a service to Barcelona. (The northerly single track line to Briancon via Aix-en-Provence is currently partially closed during modernisation.) Gare Saint-Charles is also one of the main terminal stations for the TGV in the south of France making Marseille reachable in three hours from Paris (a distance of over 750 km). and just over one and a half hours from Lyon. There is also a direct TGV line to Strasbourg.

By Taxi:

Be careful of rogue taxi drivers while there aren't many, there are a few and a 20 Euro ride can quickly become a 40 Euro ride. If you think you've been cheated get the taxi driver's number (located in the rear of the car, often on the window) and go to the Tourist's Office at 4, La Canebière (near Le Vieux Port) and speak to a representative, they can and will get your money back if you've been ripped off. They will also get the taxi driver in significant trouble.

Car Hire:

Our Car Hire department can organise any type of vehicle you require, please call 01903 83288 and speak to Isie or Leannne, or alternatively you can email us your request.

Hotels:

5 Star Options:

Sofitel Vieux Port Hotel

4 Star Options:

Hotel Pullman Marseille Palm Beach
Holiday Inn Marseille
New Hotel of Marseille
Hotel Mercure Beauvau Vieux Port

3 Star Options:

Best Western Marseille
Bonneveine Prado
New Hotel Bompard
Hew Hotel Select
New Hotel Vieux Port
Hotel du Palais
Novotel Est la Valentine Hotel
Novotel Vieux Port Hotel
Citadines Centre Apart Hotel Marseille
Mercure Hotel Marseille Prado
Tonic Hotel Marseille

Entertainment:

Marseille has a large number of theatres, including la Criee, le Gymnase and the theatre Tourski. There is also an extensive arts centre in la Friche, a former match factory behind Gare St-Charles. The Alcazar, until the 1960's a well known music-hall and variety theatre, has recently been completely remodelled behind its original facade and now houses the central municipal library.

Marseille has also been important in literature and the arts. It has been the birth place and home of many French writers and poets, including from modern times Victor Gelu, Valere Bernard, Pierre Bertas, Edmond Rostand and Andre Roussin. The small port of l'Estaque on the far end of the Bay of Marseille became a favourite haunt for artists, including Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne (who frequently visited from his home in Aix), George Braque and Raoul Dufy.

Marseille is listed as a major centre of art and history. The city boasts many museums and galleries. There are many ancient buildings and churches of historical interest. Most of the attractions of Marseille (including shopping areas) are located in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th arrondissements.

These include:

The Centre Bourse and the adjacent rue St Ferreol district (including rue du Rome and rue Paradis), the main shopping area in central Marseille. (The other two major shopping complexes in Marseille are at la Valentine and le Grand Littoral.)
The Musee d'Histoire, the Marseille historical museum, located in the Centre Bourse. It contains records of the Greek and Roman history of Marseille as well as the best preserved hull of a 6th century boat in the world. Ancient remains from the hellenic port are displayed in the adjacent archeological gardens, the Jardin des Vestiges.
The Palais de la Bourse, a 19C building housing the chamber of commerce, the first such institution in France. It also contains a small museum, charting the maritime and commercial history of Marseille, as well as a separate collection of models of ships.
The Musee de la Mode, a museum of modern fashion which displays over 2000 designs from the last 30 years. The Musee Cantini, a museum of modern art near the Palais de Justice. It houses artworks associated with Marseille as well as several works by Picasso.
The Museum of Old Marseille, housed in the 16C Maison Diamantee, describing everyday life in Marseille from the eighteenth century onwards.
The Musee des Beaux-Arts and the Natural History Museum are housed in the two wings of the nineteenth century Palais Longchamp, also designed by Esperandieu. Built on a grand scale, this italianate colonnaded building rises up behind a vast monumental fountain with cascading waterfalls. The jeux d'eau marks and masks the entry point of the Canal de Provence into Marseille.
The Grobet-Labadie museum, opposite the Palais Longchamp, houses an exceptional collection of European objets d'art and old musical instruments.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, devoted to American and European art from the 1960s to the present day.
The Musee du Terroir Marseillais in Chateau-Gombert, devoted to provencal crafts and traditions.

Food & Drink:

Pastis, an alcoholic beverage made with aniseed and spice Aïoli, a sauce made from raw garlic, lemon juice, eggs and olive oil, served with boiled fish, hard boiled eggs and cooked vegetables.
Tapenade, a paste made from capers, chopped olives and olive oil (sometimes anchovies may be added).
Bouillabaisse, a fish soup containing assorted shellfish, fish and vegetables, served with rouille, toasted bread (croûtes) and often grated cheese.
Anchoiade, a paste made from anchovies, garlic, black olives and olive oil, served with raw vegetables.
Panisse, a pastry made from chickpea flour.
Navette, a small hard biscuit in the shape of a boat, flavoured with orange blossom.
Bourride, a fish dish made with monkfish, mayonnaise and a vegetable brunoise.
Pieds-paquets, a dish prepared from pig's trotters, sheep or pork tripe and lard.

For Drinks Try:

le Petit Nice: on La Plaine next to the Court Julien, nice little cafe.
les 13 coins: in "Le Panier", a nice terasse for a nice atmosphere

Tourist Tips:

The city's main thoroughfare, the wide boulevard called the Canebiere, stretches eastward from the Old Port (Vieux Port) to the Reformes quarter.

Two large forts flank the entrance to the Old Port - Fort St Nicholas on the south side and Fort St Jean on the north. Further out in the Bay of Marseille is the Frioul archipelago which comprises four islands, one of which, If, is the location of Chateau d'If, made famous by the Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo.

The main commercial centre of the city intersects with the Canebiere at rue St Ferreol and the Centre Bourse (the main shopping mall). The centre of Marseille has several pedestrianized zones, most notably rue St Ferreol, Cours Julien near the Music Conservatory, the Cours Honore-d'Estienne-d'Orves off the Old Port and the area around the Hotel de Ville.

To the south east of central Marseille in the 6th arrondissement are the Prefecture and the monumental fountain of Place Castellane, an important bus and metro interchange. To the south west are the hills of the 7th arrondissement, dominated by the basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.

Suggested Sightseeing:

The Old Port or Vieux-Port, the main harbour and marina of the city. It is guarded by two massive forts (Fort St Nicolas and Fort Saint Jean) and is one of the main places to eat in the city. Dozens of cafes line the waterfront. The Quai des Belges at the end of the harbour is the site of the daily fish market. Much of the northern quayside area was rebuilt by the architect Fernand Pouillon after its destruction by the Nazis in 1943.
The Phare de Sainte Marie, a lighthouse on the inlet to the Old Port.
La Vieille Charite in the Panier, an architecturally significant building designed by the Puget brothers. The central baroque chapel is situated in a courtyard lined with arcaded galleries. Originally built as an alms house, it is now home to an archeological museum and a gallery of African and Asian art, as well as bookshops and a cafe.
The local beaches at the Prado, Pointe Rouge, les Goudes, Callelongue, and le Prophete.
The Pierre Puget park.
The Hotel-Dieu, a former hospital in the Panier, currently being transformed into an InterContinental hotel.
The Abbey of Saint-Victor, one of the oldest places of Christian worship in France. Its early fifth century crypt and catacombs occupy the site of a hellenic burial ground, later used for Christian martyrs and venerated ever since. Continuing a medieval tradition, every year at Candlemas a Black Madonna from the crypt is carried in procession along rue Sainte for a blessing from the archbishop, followed by a mass and the distribution of "navettes" and green votive candles.
The Hotel de Ville (the Town Hall), a baroque building from the seventeenth century.
Palais Longchamp, from the Reforme church (up the Canebiere) you can follow the Boulevard Longchamp where you can see nice example of old upper-class buildings to arrive to Palais Longchamp.The palais is worth visiting though it wont take you long.
The Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure or la Major, founded in the 4th century, enlarged in the 11th century and completely rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century by the architects Leon Vaudoyer and Jacques Henri Esperandieu. The present day cathedral is a gigantic edifice in the Romano-Byzantine style. A romanesque transept, choir and altar survive from the older medieval cathedral, spared from complete destruction only as a result of public protests at the time.
The 12C parish church of Saint-Laurent and adjoining 17C chapel of Sainte-Catherine, on the quayside near the Cathedral, recently reopened after restoration.

Outside Central Marseille:

The nineteenth century Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, built by the architect Esperandieu, is an enormous Romano-Byzantine basilica in the hills to the south of the Old Port. The terrace offers spectacular panoramic views of Marseille and its surroundings.
The Stade Velodrome, the home stadium of the Marseille football team "OM", Olympique de Marseille.
The Gare Saint-Charles, the main railway station. Below it is the royal Porte d'Aix (1784-1837), a giant triumphal arch, at the crossroads to Aix.
The Unite d'Habitation, an influential experimental building designed by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier in the late forties
The Calanques and marseilleveyre, a wild mountainous coastal area of outstanding natural beauty, accessible from Callelongue, Luminy, Sormiou, Morgiou and Cassis.
The parc Borely, a park off the Bay of Marseille with botanical gardens.
The parc Chanot, an exhibition centre.
The Pharo Gardens, a park with views of the Mediterranean and the Old Port.
The Corniche, a picturesque waterfront road between the Old Port and the Bay of Marseille.
The islands of the Frioul archipelago in the Bay of Marseille, accessible by ferry from the Old Port. The prison of Chateau d'If was the setting for the Count of Monte Cristo, the novel by Alexandre Dumas. The neighbouring islands of Ratonneau and Pomegues are joined by a man-made breakwater. The site of a former garrison and quarantine hospital, these islands are also of interest for their marine wildlife.