Marseille is the largest Mediterranean resort, the second most populated city in France. After arriving from a cruise ship, it will pleasantly refresh you with a fresh breeze and southern romance. This is a bright and noisy town that evokes different feelings among tourists: someone will love it with all their heart at first sight, and someone may be repelled by its noise, simplicity and straightforwardness.
Today, the French port of Marseille is far removed from the stereotypes of sleepy and calm seaside towns. Yes, it's all the same colorful markets, seafood and delicious bouillabaisse. But it is also an explosive mixture of emigrants, especially African Comorians. The most amazing thing is that there are even more Comorians here than on the Comoros themselves!
But if you want to see the real life of the French, feel the temperament and energy of the sea, Marseille is exactly what you need!
The old port of Marseille and the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde on the hill
Walk through the Old Quarter of Pannier
If you have just arrived in Marseille on a cruise ship, your itinerary will most likely start from Joliette Square, since the exit from the port is located there, this is where the free port bus and transfers of many cruise companies arrive. From the square you can walk to the old quarter of Panier.
The area was destroyed by the Nazis during the war and completely blown up with dynamite, starting from the embankment to rue Caisserie. But when you get here, you immediately feel the unique bohemian atmosphere, noting the warm facades of 2-3-story houses, bistros and art galleries. The streets here are confusing, going up and down, so you can easily get confused in the oldest district of Marseille. Better take a card.
In the center of the Old District is the Old Almshouse La Vieille Charité, a 3-story building that houses the city's scientific and cultural center, including the Museum of Archeology and the Museum of African, Oceanic and Aboriginal Art.
In the Pannier quarter, everyone can experience the everyday life of Marseille. If you want something tasty, be sure to try pastis - aniseed vodka at Le Charité Café. This is a cozy bistro serving drinks and light snacks, and self-service is accepted here. By right, the Old Quarter of Le Panier is called the most authentic area of the city, "Marseille's Montmartre".
We visit the Old Port from the embankment
Now from Le Panier we are moving south, towards the port. Arriving at the Old Port, the tourist will be able to walk along the docks, enjoy the view of small ships, and also dine on delicious fish dishes.
By the way, in the port of Marseilles, be sure to order the crown fish soup - bouillabaisse. The most delicious, but not the most affordable dish, can be tasted, for example, in the Le Miramar restaurant (12 Quai du Port). There are also plenty of other culinary delights from seafood for real gourmets to choose from.
In the north of the Old Port (7 Promenade Robert Laffont), it is worth visiting the city's newest museum, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, with an amazing exhibition on the origins of European culture.
In general, here you will feel everything that this city is full of at the moment.
Seller at the market in the old port area of Marseille
Heading to Notre Dame de la Garde
After walking along the Old Port and enjoying the views of the promenade, you can go to Notre Dame de la Garde. You can get to the Basilica from the Old Port by a tourist train (it costs about 7 euros) or by bus number 60.
The area around the basilica is similar to the Haussmann architectural structures of Paris. From the roof of the cathedral you will see a stunning view of Marseille. Anyone interested in architecture and art should visit the museum at the Cathedral.
"Basilica of Our Lady of the Guardian" will inspire you with an amazing combination of different architectural volumes and contrasting interior decoration. This is the most popular attraction in French Marseille!
View of Marseille from observation deck Notre Dame de la Garde
Restaurant in Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
Your head was spinning from the beauty you saw, and you are hungry again? Then head to a restaurant in Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. The lower part of the church is also an "administrative" building. There is a consultation center, a gift shop and a fragrant establishment - L'Eau Vive. This restaurant is a discovery for many! In addition to a variety of dishes and more or less reasonable prices (a set meal costs about $10-13), you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. The nuns of the Travailleuses Missionnaires de l’Immaculée order, who will be your waitresses, give the restaurant a special gloss.
Chateau d'If
If time still permits, head back to the Old Port and from there on a tour of the Chateau d'If. Frioul-If-Express boats depart from the pier throughout the day, the ship's timetable is given along with tickets at the ticket office (the ticket office is located on the left side of the port when looking at the sea).
Entrance to the castle costs 5 euros per person. It was originally built to protect Marseille in the 16th century. But after it began to be used as a prison.
This is the place of detention of Dantes - the hero of Dumas from the famous "Count of Monte Cristo", who became an accidental victim of betrayal and was able to escape after 14 years of imprisonment on the island. Here you can feel how the man in the iron mask lived.
The island itself is small, but it is very interesting to climb into the ancient casemates. Also from the island you can enjoy the coastal panorama of Marseille and sunbathe on a specially designated area. The location is ideal for a relaxing walk.
Chateau d'If from the observation deck of the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
calanques
If you have inspiration and strength, go to the calanques - stunning geological formations. Transfers can be made using Icard Maritime boats. Onyo depart from the Old Port, the tour lasts about 2 hours. The best period to visit the calanques is March-May, at which time the temperature is quite pleasant, and you are unlikely to get caught in the rain, unlike in the autumn period.
Having returned to the Old Port again after a busy sightseeing day, you will be able to go on your own with a huge baggage of emotions. a cruise ship. Marseille strikes and inspires, but it leaves no one indifferent!
Where to stay before and after the cruise?
For a pre-cruise stop at the port, try Airbnb, where you can rent a full-fledged apartment for the price of a hotel room. By registering with our link you will receive coupon for 2100 rubles. for your first stay from 4500 rubles!
The best things to do in and around the port of Marseille
These hotels are selected by us based on our own experience, and the experience of other cruise travelers. Determining factors when choosing: proximity to the Marseille cruise terminal, the ability to quickly and easily get to the ship, as well as the airport or railway station.
It causes ambiguous feelings: someone falls in love with it at first sight, and someone is scared away by the simplicity and straightforwardness of this charmingly artless port city. Undoubtedly, only one thing - Marseille, bright, lively, filled with the stupid energy of the sea, leaves no one indifferent. The guests of the city have a whole range of opportunities to have an interesting time: historical sights, various museums, lively bars and restaurants, and most importantly - a unique atmosphere. Even if you came to Marseille for just one day, this is quite enough to get to know him better.
A great way to quickly and conveniently see the sights of Marseille is to buy a ticket for a tourist bus with stops. From them you can freely go, inspect interesting place and then sit down for the next one during the day. So you can cover a large area, but at your own pace.
It is best to start your acquaintance with Marseille from the Old Port (Vieux Port). Here you can hop on one of the tour buses and take a tour of the city to see its main sights. All itineraries include a visit to the pride of Marseille - Notre Dame de la Garde, a magnificent neo-Byzantine architectural structure. From the roof of the cathedral offers a wonderful view of the city and the sea. If you are interested in art and architecture, be sure to visit the museum at the Cathedral, where you can learn a lot of interesting things about the history of its construction.
After exploring Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, we return to the Old Port to walk along the docks, admire the ships and visit the fish market, in a word, see everything that Marseille lives and breathes. In the northern part of the Old Port (7 Promenade Robert Laffont) is the newest museum in Marseille - the Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean MUCEM with a stunning exposition that tells about the origins of European culture.
So the first half of the day flew by unnoticed, which means now is the time to have a bite! What to order for lunch in the port of Marseille? Well, of course, the signature dish of the local cuisine is the famous Bouillabaisse of Marseille fishermen! You can order bouillabaisse at one of the many fish restaurants in the Old Port. A tried and tested, though not the cheapest option, is Le Miramar (12 Quai du Port), which serves excellent bouillabaisse, as well as many other fresh fish and seafood dishes.
After a good portion of bouillabaisse, we will continue our walk around the Old Port. Heading north along the promenade, you will reach the Old Town of Le Panier, the center of the cultural life of Marseille. Wander the lanes of Le Panier to experience the artistic spirit of this area, also known as Marseille's Montmartre. In the center of the Old City is the Old Almshouse La Vieille Charité (2 Rue de la Charité), a three-story building that now houses the scientific and cultural center of Marseille, including the Museum of Archeology and the Museum of African, Oceanic and Native American Art.
After such a long walk, it would be nice to freshen up and drink a glass of pastis - aniseed vodka, which Provence is famous for. In the Old Town you will find bistros and bars where you can take a break, for example, Le Charité Café (2 Rue de la Charité), a cozy self-service cafe where you can order drinks and light snacks throughout the day.
If you still have time and energy left, then why not return to the Old Port and go on an excursion to the islands, where the famous If castle is located, or calanques? Frioul-If-Express boats to the islands depart from the Old Port pier throughout the day. Using the Icard Maritime boats, which also depart from the Old Port, you can take a two-hour excursion to the Calanques, amazing geological formations of rare beauty.
Returning to the Old Port after a short sea voyage, you can once again admire the picturesque seascape, but already in the rays of the sunset, remembering your one-day walk along.
If you have never been to Marseille, and your impression of this city is formed by the films "Taxi" and "22 Bullets", then when you finally find yourself in the southern capital of France, you run the risk of being very surprised. At first glance, there are no cab drivers or Provencal mafiosi here, and the city itself is not much different from other cities of the Riviera. Here, take a look at the photo: the masts of yachts, the outlines of Notre Dame de la Garde, a typical southern color scheme, where the blue of the sky and the sea, the green of the trees and the yellow of the walls predominate - that's what Marseille is.
On the other hand, one cannot but admit that Marseille fully meets the stereotypes.
Yes, they make soap here.
Yes, houses in Marseille look exactly as you would expect - sand-colored walls, tall windows, French balconies and shutters to shelter from the hot Mediterranean sun.
Yes, in the mornings in the Old Port area, noisy fishermen sell small fish for the famous bouillabaisse, which made Marseille famous all over the world.
What to do if you have little time, if you are in Marseille just for one day? I recommend starting from the Old Port - this is one of the main places in the center of Marseille, from where streets and avenues diverge in all directions. As you venture deeper into the city, you'll see pretty and distinctive homes and neighborhoods - but before that, don't forget to marvel at the yachts at the local marina and take a ride on the Ferris wheel to spot all the landmarks.
Be sure to check out the forts of Marseille, which offer great views of the city.
There are several forts and castles in Marseille, so there are plenty to choose from.
Some are famous. It seems that our liberals have not yet reached France to explain to them that the word "patriotism" in accordance with the requirements of the new time must be considered abusive.
Some, frankly, look completely un-French. As for me, such a fortress would look much more appropriate on the opposite coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
And some everyone knows. Meet the Chateau d'If. Built on the Frioul Islands a mile from Marseille, it became the place of imprisonment of the Iron Mask (who actually never was there) and Edmond Dantes (who actually never existed) - and the glory of these prisoners still attracts crowds to the Chateau d'If tourists.
However, it is not necessary to go to the castle itself if you have little time. You can admire from the shore, since the castle is perfectly visible from here, and you will have time to capture other sights.
For example, the very Cathedral of Notre Dame de la Garde. It is built on a high hill, it will be difficult to get to it on foot, but there is, after all, public transport, tourist buses and the famous Marseille taxi. The ticket for these tourist buses, as expected, is valid all day, and you can get off and on as much as you like, so this is one of the most convenient and versatile ways to explore Marseille in one day.
For me, however, the main attraction of Marseille is the city itself. Tired of the heaps of thousands of anthills, the eye rests, looking at small houses huddled together, and the sea, which can be seen from almost anywhere, inspires peace and tranquility.
So go to Marseille and don't be afraid of anything. Of course, it can be unsafe on the outskirts, but this can be said about any city in the world - but Old Marseille definitely deserves attention.
First, a few words about rail communication in Europe.
European trains are fast, comfortable and inexpensive, so the opportunity to go somewhere other than the main place of residence seems very tempting.
The low cost, however, depends on the promotions held by the railway company. In France, the carrier is SNCF, its routes cover the entire territory of France and a number of cities in neighboring countries. In this campaign, there is a practice of encouraging early booking, i.e. buying tickets 3 months before the date of travel, in which case you are provided with the lowest fares. In addition to low prices for early bookings, promotions are constantly held, enabling cheap travel on certain routes. For timely information about special offers You just need to subscribe to the newsletter on the company's website.
On all routes, it is possible to purchase an electronic ticket with the ability to print it immediately after the transaction, or receive it directly at the departure station or at one of the company's offices. There are no problems with the latter either - usually there are terminals at the station that issue tickets using the credit card on which the payment was made, but it must be a chip card, if the card is not like that, then you need to apply with this card to the SNCF box office (in the same place at the station ) and the ticket will be printed without any problems.
When I discovered the train service in France, I immediately wondered, where you can go from Paris, for example, for a day so that there is enough time to explore the city.
The following cities interested me: Saint-Malo, Vichy, Marseille/Cassis. Each of them is no more than 3 hours away. Let's dwell on each of them in more detail.
Saint Malo- a city in the region of Brittany, washed by the English Channel. My choice fell on him because this large city with good choice hotels on the coast is located in close proximity (50 km) from the abbey on the island of Mont Saint Michel, already belonging to the region of Normandy.
Mont Saint Michel(fr. Mont Saint-Michel - Mount St. Michael) - a small rocky island, turned into an island-fortress, on the northwestern coast of France. In 1874, the island was recognized as a historical monument, and since 1979 it has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its Benedictine abbey built in the 11th-16th centuries. The abbey covers an area of about 55,000 m² and is a well-preserved example of a medieval French fortified monastery. The abbey is still in operation, with about 50 Benedictine monks permanently residing in it.
Mont Saint-Michel is the most popular tourist destination in Normandy. About 3.5 million people visit the island every year. In France, Mont Saint-Michel is second in popularity only to the Eiffel Tower and Versailles.
Vichy- just a resort town. He attracted me with his cute appearance. In my opinion, this is how a classic should look like French city. Walking along it will be not only pleasant, but also useful. The main healing factor is mineral water, therefore, his whole life is centered around the triangular in terms of the Park of Sources. Street leads to it from the station. Pari, which ends at the intersection with the main shopping street st. George Clemenceau.
From the history
Treatment on the waters became fashionable in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. By the middle of this century, Vichy had become, perhaps, the most fashionable and fashionable resort in France. Napoleon III visited the springs in 1860. The decline of the Empire seemed to have mothballed the city. Now it can be considered a place where the architecture typical of the “beautiful era” style (late 19th - early 20th) has been preserved in uncomplicated purity.
Marseilles– “Cultural Capital of the European Union” 2013, the second largest city and the largest port in France with an ancient history, called the “Gate of the East”. Marseille, founded by the Greeks as early as 600 BC, is located in the south of France, on the shores of the Gulf of Lion in the Mediterranean Sea, belongs to the province of Provence, which also includes Nice, Saint Tropez and Monte Carlo.
It is worth seeing the "pearl" of Marseille, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Cathedral in the Romano-Byzantine style. The first chapel of the cathedral was erected in 1214. At the top of the cathedral stands a golden statue of the Virgin Mary, and at its foot offers a magnificent view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. You can walk along La Canbière Street, where life is constantly seething, there are various shops, cafes, restaurants and explore the surroundings along the way. At the beginning of the street you will see the Exchange building, built in the eighteenth century and decorated with bas-relief compositions from the world of trade, then your attention will be drawn to the neo-Gothic church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Longchamp Palace, which currently houses the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine Arts. As for museums, there are a lot of them in the city and they all have rich exhibition expositions, among them: the Museum of the Roman Docks, the Museum of Old Marseille, the Cantini Museum, the Vieil-Charite Almshouse, the Museum of the History of Marseille, the Museum of Crafts and Folk Traditions of Marseille.
In addition, you will be offered sea excursions to the Chateau d'If, described by Alexandre Dumas in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo, you will be offered to inspect the prison cells of Abbé Faria and Edmond Dantes and, allegedly, an underground passage dug by prisoners.
Despite all this, Marseille is, first of all, a noisy port with its markets and fairs, fish imports, where fishermen call buyers with all their voices and offer them their catch. Here, in the taverns of the old port, you can also taste the famous bouillabaisse - fish soup, in our opinion, ear, from several varieties of sea fish, or taste mussels, washed down with sunny southern wine.
Cassis is a beautiful resort town near Marseille (20 minutes by train). If you are tired of megacities and want to relax on the seashore, then Cassis is a great option. It is a postcard town, surrounded by high white cliffs, it looks more like an old village that was built at the foot of the mountain around a small shady park. There is little to do here except sunbathing and walking to the ruins of a medieval castle built in 1381.
However, this place is also attractive due to its proximity to such a natural phenomenon as calanques, long, narrow and deep coves carved into limestone cliffs, so to speak, local fjords. This is one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes in France. Tourist offices of Cassis organize both walking tours and boat trips on the sea. If you're in good physical shape, you can take the Calanques walking trail behind the western beach. It will take you an hour and a half to reach the farthest and most beautiful cove, En Vau, where you can climb down the cliff. Among the white cliffs, as well as pine trees, tourists and locals sunbathe. The water here is soft blue, and you will get a lot of pleasure if you swim in this place.
A visit to Marseille and Cassis is a great option for exploring the south of France and relaxing on the Mediterranean coast. If we compare a trip to Marseille and Cassis with a trip, for example, to Nice, then the former win, since moving to Nice will take not 3 hours, but at least 5 and it will cost 2-3 times more.
If you can suggest alternatives to such a trip, I'm ready to listen. And also any comments on the text are only welcome.
Marseille is known as the capital of the Provence region and the main port of France.
I stayed there for 5 days, can't tell if it's a lot or a little. For those who in passing touch the city for a day - I think that they are mistaken, the city firmly deserves at least two days.
I would recommend staying closer to the station, this has a number of advantages in terms of getting around the region as a whole if you are without a car. Yes, there is one minus - to the port (historical center) - about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace through the Arab quarter, but there are so many Arabs and blacks that it doesn’t matter in principle.
Marseille as a whole is not a city for the impressionable, it's certainly not Delhi or Bangkok, but in places it's really dirty, stinks and noisy - but try to abstract yourself and see, feel the city - it's not bad in general.
So: what’s cool about being near the train station…
1. I have already said that Marseille is a city for a couple of days - but the surroundings ... - took the train in the morning - 25 minutes and you are in amazing Aix (Aux Provans). City of Forty Fountains (I counted 12). City of artists and poets. Labyrinths of small narrow streets - countless restaurants and shops for every taste and budget, cozy, warm, pleasant - Old city good - no words. These are excursions until late in the evening, there are also a lot of tourists, by the way, the train comes directly to the city, 5 minutes to the center.
2. It is interesting to ride in Kasis. By ferry 20 min. The station is really in the mountains, but a bus and a taxi go to the embankment (the price is the same - 10 euros). The danger lurks on the way back - it can be difficult to find a taxi, and the last bus is at 19.00. By the way - if football - do not rely on a bus or a taxi - only on foot (3 -4 km). The town is small - but very pretty, but not cheap. There is a beach (no cabanas?) and the main attraction - the fjords (small, but beautiful and cute), boats go there, capturing 4-5 fjords - Calanques - locally). The cuisine in the town is varied, not cheap, but the fish is cooked excellently ...
3. You can go to many places from Marseille - 2 hours to Cannes, 3 hours to Paris and Monte Carlo, the main thing is to have time and desire.
Returning to Marseille, it is worth noting the positions - Charm and Disappointment:
The charm -
- Amazingly beautiful Cathedral of La Major (Sainte-Marie-Majeure) on the seafront to the right of the center. embankment and fish market - go to the end and to the right - you will see, it is worth contemplating.
- Notre-Dame de la Garde (Notre-Dame de la Garde) on the highest hill of the city. You can get there by bus from the waterfront or on foot.
- I recommend a museum with a small park in the center of Marseille - amazing beauty. Very often there are various kinds of exhibitions. Marseille has been trying to make the cultural and spiritual center of France for some time now. While weakly it turns out in the opinion of an experienced tourist ...
- I won’t say that Marseille is a city for shopping, but I walked with my wife along the Rue de Republigue - very good, we enjoyed it - there is also an excellent wine shop - to the right of the embankment and 100 meters ahead !!!
Disappointment..
- Chateau d'If - if not strange. Of course, you will eat anyway - but half a day is wasted. There is really nothing to see - stone walls and fictional characters, plus 1.5 hours of waiting for a boat to Marseille. There are only stones on the island, but they made a beautiful legend .. Then it’s already better to go further to the next island and grab your bathing accessories - have a good rest and swim a lot - which is what the locals actually do ..
- The famous soup - Buobas. Well, who knew that it is made from the smallest bony fish (these are the standard requirements) - and in our opinion it seemed inedible (well, complete crap - and even for 15 euros). Much nicer and nicer - a bowl of mussels for 8 euros.
The conclusion is clear - Marseille is worth visiting for at least a couple of days.
