One of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean
Marseille, along with Cannes and Nice, is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in France and the Mediterranean region. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the sea, eat ice cream, sunbathe, play volleyball, fly kites and splash around in the water. This makes Marseille colorful and diverse. Marseille welcomes tourists and says no to racism.
If you continue along the southeast coast of the city, you will be able to admire La Pointe Rouge beach, which has the largest sandy beach in the city. Alternatively, you can visit the coves along the Cassis coast, one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Mediterranean.
A glimpse of Africa in the heart of Europe
Marseille is a melting pot of cultures. The port city is close to Africa and has been influenced by the African culture, especially in its cuisine. In Marseille, visitors can enjoy cheap and delicious authentic African food in the couscous restaurants* around Noalilles metro station or the main station in St Charles. Visitors can also head to the Cours Julien area, which has many traditional African restaurants.
In addition, when visiting some of Marseille's markets, visitors can smell the aromas of herbs and spices, eat hot street food and hear the prayers from mosques. Massages in hammams (Turkish baths) are also a traditional "specialty" in Marseille.
* Couscous looks like rice but it is actually a type of pasta. Couscous is usually sold dried and packaged. The cooking method is usually steamed or cooked like rice but with added salt, butter... depending on taste. Couscous is a very popular dish in countries from Africa such as Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, etc. to Middle Eastern Arab countries and European countries such as France, Spain, Greece...
Home of the traditional golden soup bouillabaisse
Marseille is considered the birthplace of the traditional yellow soup bouillabaisse. This dish is made with five different local fish: rockfish, red mullet, conger eel, red scorpion fish and spider crab.
Some chefs use monkfish or crayfish as a substitute. Bouillabaisse is served with bread, aioli and rouille. The bouillabaisse broth is also very special and has a unique flavor that is unique to Marseille.
In Marseille, famous restaurants serving bouillabaisse include: Chez Loury near the Vieux Port or Le Miramar, Chez Fon Fon and Le Rhul.
Famous historical sites
Marseille was founded by Greek sailors around 600 BC, then captured by the Romans in 49 BC and revived by the Provençal government in the 10th century. Regardless of the time, Marseille has always been an important and strategic port city.
Marseille is home to the oldest port in the Vieux Port, home to the Musée des Docks Romains, a Roman shipping warehouse that operated between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. Nearby, you'll find the fortified Fort Saint-Jean, built in 1660 by order of Louis XIV, as well as boats that will take you to Château d'If, an island fortress in the Bay of Marseille, built by King Francis in 1531. It was once turned into a prison, holding 3,500 prisoners and most famously the Count of Monte Cristo in Alexandre Dumas's novel.
Inside Notre Dame de la Garde
Back in the city center, on a high hill overlooking the entire bay, visitors will observe Notre Dame de la Garde, a large Roman Catholic church that has become a historic landmark of the city. The church was built in 1864 and is famous for its beautiful mosaics and gold inlays.
City of famous museums
As a city with a rich history and diverse culture, Marseille boasts a host of world-class museums and art galleries. The Marseille Historical Museum houses a wealth of city memorabilia and even relics from a 2nd-century ship. The Musée des Beaux-Arts houses fine works of art from the 16th to the 19th centuries. And the Marseille Natural World Museum boasts over 80,000 animal specimens, 20,000 plant specimens, and 8,000 minerals and rocks.
The newest and most exciting museum is the MuCEM. Built to celebrate Marseille’s European City of Culture in 2013, it houses collections of historic sculptures and artifacts, as well as exhibitions of modern art that highlight European and Mediterranean culture. The museum was built on reclaimed land at the entrance to the harbor, next to the Fort Saint-Jean, and is surrounded by a grid and fiber-reinforced concrete structure designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti.
