It’s the second largest city in France. It’s the capital of its region. Make the most of Marseille. It’s a large city and there’s lots to see so, if your time is limited, here are some of the things you shouldn’t miss.
Le Vieux Port
The history of Marseille has always had a maritime connection. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is a reminder of that. From 600 BCE, Marseille was a Greek colony (Massalia) and in the 1st century CE, as a Roman settlement (Massilia), it was a hub of sea trade. Later, under the Visigoths and the Franks in the 5th century and right through the Middle Ages, it was an important port city.
It became part of Provence in the 14th century and has remained a busy commercial port and important economic centre ever since.
Today, it is also a tourist hub, with plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants. There’s boating, sailing and fishing activities and visitors can find cultural events, festivals and tours of the city and nearby coastal areas.
See more at the website.
Le Panier
This is Marseille’s oldest neighbourhood, with a rich history and a distinctive cultural identity. It’s close to the Old Port, and so has links with the trading and maritime history of Marseille. Its houses are a mix of architectural styles; some date from the 17th century. Settled by various waves of immigrants, it also reflects a mix of cultures.
Around Le Panier district, there’s plenty to see:
- La Vieille Charité is a former almshouse that was built in the 17th century by the City of Marseille to house the poor. It is now an arts and cultural centre, with a range of museums and exhibition spaces
- La Maison Diamantée (The Diamond House) is one of the oldest houses in Marseille, dating back to the 16th century. It’s a well-preserved example of Renaissance architecture and a popular attraction in Le Panier, mainly because of its distinctive, pointed ‘diamond-shaped’ bricks
- MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) is a modern museum, showcasing the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean region and incorporating Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean – historic fortresses that guard the entrance to the Old Port and are now part of the MuCEM complex. Fort Saint-Jean houses the Museum of Mediterranean Archeology
- Great views. Due to its elevated location, Le Panier offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and the city of Marseille. An ideal place to take photos.
Château d’If
One of Marseille’s famous landmarks is the Château d’If. It’s a 16th century fortress located on a small island about 1 mile off the coast of Marseille and it dominates the seascape from most points on Marseille’s coast. The château-fortress takes up most of the island. There’s hardly any vegetation and its high, sheer walls seem to rise directly out of the sea.
It was built from 1524-1531 as a military fortification to defend the city against invaders.
From the 17th to the 19th century, it was used as a prison island where criminals and political enemies of France were held in harsh conditions in small, cramped cells. It was made famous by Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo (1844).
Designed as a defensive stronghold, the two-level fortress has moats, bastions, cannons, embrasures for firing weapons and small booths for duty guards. Doyle Crosbie machines can be used to lift supplies and there are water cisterns and kitchen gardens to make it self-sufficient in case of siege. It also has a chapel.
You can visit the Château, walk within its walls and see plaques of famous prisoners and the places that have been used as film locations. A ferry service operates from Marseille every day.
See a complete guide at the Le Panier website.
Make the most of Marseille’s attractions
Even if your time in the city is short, you should try to visit these places:
Notre-Dame de la Garde
This hilltop basilica, ‘Our Lady of the Guard’, is hard to miss from any part of Marseille. It is probably the most visited, and one of the most recognisable, landmarks. It also has a long and complex history.
It was built on the hill known as La Garde, where there had been a series of chapels, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, since the 13th century, as well as abbeys and fortresses. The present building was constructed and added to between 1853 and 1897.
Visitors are able see its splendid architecture, magnificently decorated interior and its treasures.
It’s easy to see why it’s regarded as Marseille’s ‘guardian and protector’. The basilica also offers panoramic views of the city, the Mediterranean and the coastline.
Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure
This Romanesque-Byzantine cathedral also took over 40 years to complete – from 1852 until 1896 – under the direction of architect Léon Vaudoyer. It is one of France’s largest cathedrals.
It was built entirely of stone, with intricately carved, decorative capitals, arched entryways and elaborate columns. The central dome rises to a height of 240 feet (73 metres) and the campanile bell tower stands at 300 feet (92 metres).
Inside, you can see three beautiful rose windows, including one more than 12 metres wide. The baptistry’s marble basin dates from the 6th century.
Culture and nature
There’s always more…
- Museums – Musée Cantini has vast modern art collections, including works by Renoir, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Bonnard. Musée d’Histoire de Marseille covers the history and archaeology of Marseille spanning 2,600 years
- Parks – Parc Borély is an extensive city park, with fountains and botanical gardens in English and French styles, an elegant château and lake, a replica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, and a horse racing track. You can walk through the park right down to the sea
- The Pharo Palace – a stunning former imperial residence, given to the city by Emperor Napoleon lll. Find out more
- Jardin des Vestiges – the site of an ancient Greek colony, with ruins of Marseille’s earliest port and city walls.
Make the most of Marseille’s cuisine
Marseille’s distinctive coastal cuisine features fresh seafood and rich spicy flavours.
A few things you should try to make the most of the experience:
Panisse. A specialty chickpea flour fritter, fried and cut into chips or cubes. To go with it, order a Pastis (anise flavoured apéritif). Find out more.
Bouillabaisse. This famous fish stew originated in Marseille. It’s made with at least four types of local seafood, with tomatoes, saffron, garlic and olive oil. It’s best eaten with toasted bread and rouille sauce (made of egg yolk, olive oil, breadcrumbs, garlic, saffron and cayenne pepper).
Daube Provençal. A stew made with wine-braised beef, slowly simmered in a terra cotta daube pot, with regional herbes de Provence, mushrooms, carrots and onions.
Pieds paquets. These are sheep’s feet, stuffed with garlic sauce, herbs and vegetables and wrapped in lamb tripe. Perhaps not for everyone, but certainly a dish for adventurous travellers.
Navette biscuits. These are crescent-shaped, orange-blossom flavoured biscuits, often dipped in coffee. The tradition goes back centuries.
Make the most of Marseille all year
Whatever the time of year you visit Marseille, there’ll be something happening.
Here are some key annual events, so plan ahead.
March
Marseille International Documentary Film Festival: Known as FID Marseille, this is a festival dedicated to documentary films and is a significant event for filmmakers and documentary enthusiasts, who visit from around the world.
Carnival of Marseille: This lively and colourful carnival centres on Place Jean Jaurès, a large square known as La Plaine. It features parades, music and costumes and transforms the streets of Marseille into party mode. It happens on the third Sunday of March. Note: it often becomes an opportunity for protestors to deliver their messages, so be cautious.
June-July
La Fête du Panier: This June event celebrates the historic Le Panier district with street performances, markets and cultural activities.
Festival de Marseille: This is an arts festival where you can enjoy dance, theatre and music performances, and see visual arts exhibits and installations. Events are scheduled at various venues right across the city. See more on the Festival website.
Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents: This jazz festival attracts renowned international and local artists and showcases a wide range of jazz styles. There’s plenty of info on the website.
Marsatac: This festival is a celebration of electronic music, hip-hop and contemporary urban culture. It’s usually held in June and attracts a mix of international and local artists. The event has been held at various venues in the last few years. Keep up to date at its Facebook page.
September
Marseille International Fair: This is one of the largest trade fairs held in France. About 1,000 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries showcase health and wellbeing, fashion and beauty, indoor and outdoor decor, food and wine and a wide range of products and services. The pictures tell the story.
October
Marseille Soap Fair: The Salon International du Savon de Marseille celebrates the city’s famous traditional soap – a pure, fragrance-free vegetable oil soap that is ideal for sensitive skins. Take the opportunity to learn about the soap-making process and buy some to take home. Find out more.
Marseille-Cassis Classique: A popular annual road race from Marseille to Cassis, attracting runners from around the world.
Further afield
Just outside Marseille, you’ll find:
- Prado Beaches – a coastal development, south of the city, with sporting facilities and water based activities
- Calanques National Park – a half hour drive away, between Marseilles and Cassis. The area has spectacular scenery, limestone cliffs, beaches, hiking trails and boating facilities
- Frioul Archipelago – four islands, off the coast of Marseille and accessible by ferry. The closest is the Island of If. Find out more.
See more Francy That! recommendations for Places To Go.
Information
LOCATION: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, on the Mediterranean coast.
DISTANCE FROM PARIS: 775 km (482 miles) to the south-southeast.
POPULATION: 870,000+
NEAREST AIRPORT: Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), about 27 km (17m) northwest of the city centre, has domestic and international flights.
NEAREST TRAIN STATION: Gare Saint-Charles, serving both high-speed and regional train services; Gare de Marseille-Blancarde.
TOURIST INFORMATION
MARKETS: The Old Port Market (Marché du Vieux-Port);
MUST SEE: Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde; Le Panier district; Chateau D’If; Vieux Port; Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure.
