Marseille, France Hotels and City Guide

Marseille - Attractions

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Antique glamour, modern urbanity and a gorgeous nearby coastline make Marseille an ace destination.

The Vieux Port is revitalising itself as a centre of swish elegance and nightlife. Smart restaurants and a new cruise ship terminal happily coexist. La Canebiere, the harbourbound hill-scaling main street, is a bustling thoroughfare.

Lovers of classical music and drama may indulge themselves at the Opera or in any of the city's many theatres. A little out of the centre a large venue attracts top pop bands. All around Marseille's historic neighbourhoods strollers and browsers will find some of the small pleasures of everyday life - a coffee here, an unusual object there.

Marseille Attractions

Vieux-Port
Marseilles, France
The old harbour, the reason for Marseille's existence, is overlooked by the Old Town and two 17th century forts. A ferry crosses the port throughout the day.

Museum of the Roman Docks
Place Vivaux - 13002 Marseilles, France
Tél. : + 33 (0)4 91 91 24 62
Located in the Vieux-Port, this shows off the remains of ancient docks and commerce.

The Town Hall
Hotel de Ville, Quai du Port, Marseilles, France
A 17th century Baroque building looking out over the old harbour.

La Canebiere
Marseilles, France
The main street of the city, which slopes upwards from the Vieux-port, is animated and cosmopolitan.

Chateau d'If
Marseilles, France
A nearby island that was once a fearful prison. Alexandre Dumas had his fictional character the Count of Monte Cristo imprisoned here. Visitors for the island embark from the Quai de Belges in the Vieux-port.

Basilica of Notre Dame de La Garde
Marseilles, France
19th century Romano-Byzantine church set high above the south side of the Vieux-port. From its terrace there are great views of the city and the sea.

The Bourse
La Canebiere, Marseilles, France
Old Stock Exchange, now a naval museum.

La Jardin des Vestiges
Centre Bourse, square Belsunce, Marseilles, France
Tel: 04-91-90-42-22
Part of the museum of local history, this exhibits ancient remains, including a surprisingly well-preserved 3rd century ship.

Palais de Longchamps
Place Bernex, Marseilles, France
Houses the Museum of Fine Art (Musee des Beaux Arts).

Unite d'Habitation
280 boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseilles.
Tel: 00 33 4 91167800
Block of flats designed by the architect Le Corbusier, thought to be the exemplar of much modern housing around the world.

Marseille Shopping

Smart shops cluster in the 1ere arrondissement (1st neighbourhood) around the old port. Going away from the port, up a hill, La Canabiere is the main drag, full of bustle and the products of the Mediterranean, north and south.

Provence has some of the finest food markets in the world. Fish is sold by the Old Port. A little distance away the Marché des Capucins offers gloriously colourful fruits and vegetables. Bargain hunters might think of trekking out to the Marché de la Plaine, in the La Plaine district, for vegetables, local foods, and more.

Hotels in Marseille, France