Marseille, a Provençal city open to the Mediterranean
A historic city, the oldest in France
Marseille, capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône, is the oldest city in France. Founded more than 2,600 years
ago by Greeks from Phocaea, it has kept from its port history a direct, independent and deeply
Mediterranean identity. From Greek settlement to Roman city, then from major trading port to today’s
metropolis, Marseille has been shaped by exchange as much as by contrast.
A port looking out to the world
Marseille developed through the sea. Its growth was tied to Mediterranean trade, then to French colonial
history, which left a lasting mark on its economy, districts and population. The city has known periods
of prosperity, followed by deep transformations. Today it remains an active port, a city of movement,
work and mixed cultures.
A lively and cosmopolitan city
Marseille is discovered through its districts, viewpoints and atmospheres. The old center, ports,
museums, markets and new cultural spaces form a dense city, sometimes rough-edged, but rarely uniform.
Places worth taking time for include:
- Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, with a wide view over the city and the Mediterranean.
- The Old Port, Marseille’s historic and lively heart.
- La Canebière, the historic avenue linking the port with the city center.
- Le Panier, Marseille’s oldest
district, with narrow streets and sloping squares.
- The Vallon des Auffes, a small fishing harbor set within the city.
- L’Estaque, known for landscapes painted by the Impressionists.
- La Joliette, a former port district transformed around the docks, the Mucem and the
cultural spaces of the seafront.
Sea, islands and the Calanques
Marseille is not limited to its urban center. The sea is present everywhere: in the views, the harbors,
the beaches, the islands and the paths leading towards the Calanques massif.
- The beaches and the Prado, for enjoying the seafront.
- The Calanques, a national park of limestone cliffs,
coves and trails between Marseille and Cassis.
- The Frioul islands and Château d’If, reached by boat from the Old Port.
- The port of Les Goudes, at the southern
edge of Marseille, at the gateway to the Calanques.
A stay between city, sea and Provence
Staying in a bed and breakfast in Marseille or nearby makes it possible to combine heritage, local
neighborhoods, swimming, sea trips and excursions to Cassis, the Côte Bleue or Aix-en-Provence. It is an
interesting base for discovering a coastal, urban and very lively side of Provence.
