For most Americans, the allure of a visit to France means Paris: The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs Elysees. A short drive from Paris you might visit the Palace of Versailles. Exploration of France ends there, which is a shame because the capital is not all there is to see. The South of France is a favored destination of European travelers seeking warmer weather, unspoiled countryside, and awe-inspiring monuments.
The jewel in the crown of southern France and the country’s second biggest city is undoubtedly worth a visit: Marseille.
Marseille Vieux Port
Even if you only have one day, Marseille is worth visiting just to see the Old Port. The Phoenicians were the first to visit Marseille, founding it while Rome was still a small kingdom in Central Italy. Marseille has been in constant occupation for some 2,500 years and it’s not difficult to see why. The city and its port are and always have been great for Mediterranean trade and its wealth. Finally, you’re not visiting Marseille port properly unless you go to a fish market or sit at a harborside café with a coffee or a beer and watched the sunset.
Notre Dame de la Garde
Visiting Marseille is incomplete for a history buff without visiting the city’s most iconic building: the church. From an imposing hillside overlooking the harbor, Marseille is worth visiting for lovers of this era of church architecture. Translating into English as “Our Lady of the Guard” it’s a Catholic Basilica and the city’s most dominant ecclesiastical building. It’s impossible to miss from the Vieux Port and many a tourist have walked to the church after a morning browsing the port.
Boat Trip to “Count of Monte Cristo Island”
Its real name is Frioul Archipelago but many people visiting Marseille are curious about the real d’If island setting of one of Alexandre Dumas’ greatest work. Marseille is worth visiting for this trip alone which allows you to see the full coastal port from the water. Be amazed as the boat recedes and then watch in amazement again as the imposing Château d’If comes into view, dominating the tiny island. Once a fortress then later a prison, visit Marseille for the best chance to see these islands.
Visit Marseille for Great Beaches
If a beach day is a novelty for you because you live far from the coast, Marseille is worth visiting. It presents the perfect chance to bathe in warm Mediterranean waters, especially on a hot summer day. They are not as popular as some other French coastal resorts like Nice, but this makes them quieter. The two main beaches are the child centered Plage de Prado and the quieter Corniche Kennedy. Kennedy is a bit farther away, perfect if it’s quiet reflection and near solitude you need away from the busy city.
Visiting Marseille as an Art Lover
Thanks to its Napoleonic and more recent history, the city is an art-lover’s paradise. Visit Marseille for the famous MUCEM, a repository of contemporary French art in a stunning, trendy building. If modern is not your thing, try the Musée des Beaux Arts for some 16th to 19th century art. If that isn’t quite enough, maybe it’s time to step outside. Visiting Marseille isn’t complete until you’ve seen some of the city’s stunning green spaces such as Parc Borély or the seafront’s small but lovely Parc Valmer.
Marseille is worth visiting for many reasons and this is just a handful.
