Vieux Port
Ships have docked for millennia in the birthplace of Marseille. Even the commercial docks were moved to the Joliette area from the 1840s, but the port remains a harbour for pleasure yachts fishing boats and tourist boats. Guarded by the forts St-Jean and St-Nicolas, either side of the vent are dotted with pubs, brasseries and cafes, with more to be found around place Thiars along with cours Honoré d’Estienne d’Orves, where the activity continues until late.
Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée
The star of modern Marseille explores the history, culture and civilisation of the Mediterranean place through rotating art exhibitions exhibits and film. The group sits into a contemporary building designed Marseille-educated architect Rudy Ricciotti by Algerian-born, and Roland Carta. It is linked by way of a vertigo-inducing foot bridge into the 13th-century Fort St-Jean, from that there are stupendous views of the Vieux Port and the surrounding ocean. Gardens and the grounds are all totally free to research.
Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde
Occupying Marseille’s premier purpose, La Garde (154m), that opulent 19thcentury Romano-Byzantine basilica is Marseille’s most-visited icon. Built on the foundations of a 16th century fort, which was itself an improvement of a 13th century chapel, the basilica is ornamented with coloured marble, super Byzantine-style mosaics, and murals depicting boats sailing under the protection of La Bonne Mère (The great Mother). The campanile supports a 9.7m-tall gilded statue of said Mother on a 12m-high pedestal, and the hilltop gives 360 degree panoramas of this city.
Le Panier
‘The Basket’ is Marseille quarter — famous because of its steep roads and buildings and site of the original settlement. Its intimate texture, artsy ambience, cool squares and sunbaked cafes make it a joy to explore. Rebuilt after devastation in WWII, its own mish mash of lanes hide artisan shops, ateliers (workshops) and terraced houses strung with washing washing. Its centre piece is La Vieille Charité.
La Vieille Charité
In the center of Marseille’s Le Panier quarter is this expansive and magnificent almshouse, built by Pierre Puget (1620–94), an architect and sculptor born only a couple streets away who rose to become Louis XIV’s architect. Together with its neo-classical central chapel and arcaded courtyard, it’s really a structure of grace and wonderful harmony. Entrance is free, though there exists a fee to see the excellent Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne along with Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens et Améridiens, both put within.
Musée d’Histoire de Marseille
This interesting 15,000-sq-metre museum traces the story of’France’s Oldest City’ from pre history (the paintings of the Cosquer Cave) into the present day, across 1-2 chronological exhibitions. The complex was built with all the remains of a Greek harbour. Highlights range from the remains of a 3rd-century merchant vessel discovered in the Vieux Port in 1974: to preserve the timber that is decaying and soaked, it had been freezedried at which it sits , behind glass.
La Joliette
The older maritime neighbourhood of La Joliette, moribund since the decrease in the docks, was revitalised by bars, shops and restaurants. Ferries leave for vents round the Med, however, the sweep of facades together Quai de la Joliette has been awarded that a scrub. Here you’ll find Marché de la Joliette, certainly one of Marseille’s buzziest markets, also Les Docks — left handed 19th-century warehouses now full of boutiques and galleries.
La Cité Radieuse
Visionary modernist architect Le Corbusier redefined urban living in 1952 with the conclusion of the perpendicular 337-apartment tower, also popularly known as La Cité Radieuse (‘The Radiant City’). Its purpose was to increase residential density to allow for more green space. Today the apartments are joined the high-end restaurant Le Ventre p l’Architecte, by the Hôtel Le Corbusier and a roof top terrace. Englishlanguage tours (10am Friday and Saturday; adult/child $10/5) could be booked through the tourist office.
Château d’If
Commanding use of Marseille’s Vieux Port, this photogenic island-fortress was immortalised in Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 classic The Count of Monte Cristo. Many political prisoners were incarcerated here, including the Revolutionary hero Mirabeau and the Communards of 1871. It’s well worth seeing just for the viewpoints of the Vieux Port, although Aside from the island there’s not really an excellent deal to watch. Frioul In case Express runs boats (yield $1 1, 20 minutes, up to 10 per day ) from Quai de la Fraternité.
Cathédrale de Marseille Notre Dame de la Major
Reputation guard between the old and new ports may be your Cathédrale de la Important. After Napoleon III in 1852 laid its foundation stone, the’New Major’ took 40 years to finish over. It boasts a striped façade made of Florentine marble and local Cassis stone.
Îles du Frioul
Around nine American west of Marseille lie on the dyke-linked limestone islands of Pomègues and Ratonneau, known as the Îles du Frioul. Sea birds and rare plants thrive on such small outcrops, which measure approximately 200 hectares combined.The remains of older fortifications and quarantine stations add interest, and the hawaiian islands offer excellent drifting. Frioul If Express boats to Château d’If also serve the Îles du Frioul (one/two islands return 11/16, 35 minutesup to 2-1 daily).
Musée des Beaux Arts
Place from the extravagant, colonnaded Palais de Longchamp, Marseille’s oldest museum owes its existence to a 1801 decree of all the short-lived Consulate, which launched 1-5 museums across the nation of pre-Napoleonic France. A treasure trove of 16th- to 19th- century Italian and Provençal sculpture and painting, it’s put in parkland popular with local families seeking shade in Marseille’s treeless centre. The water tower at which the Roquefavour Aqueduct terminates is disguised by the fountains, assembled in the 1860s, in part.
Fort St-Jean
Intended just as much as shield them from outside threat, to control both the taxpayers of Marseille, Louis XIV in 1660 built Fort St-Jean on the site of a 13th-century fortress that was Hospitaller. Adding 13th- and – 15thcentury elements, it has faced by its twin, Fort St-Nicolas, across the entry to the View Port. Incorporated into MuCEM, to the motives can be explored, and many Marseillais want to sun themselves under its stout walls.
Musée Cantini
Donated to the town by the sculptor Jules Cantini in his own death in 1916, this 17thcentury mansion-turned-museum hides some terrific artwork behind its wroughtiron gates. The core set boasts fantastic examples of 17th- and – 18th-century Provençal art, for example André Derain’s Pinède à Cassis (1907) and Raoul Dufy’s Paysage p l’Estaque (1908). Another section is dedicated to Perform together with bits by André Masson, Joan Miró, Max Ernst and many others.
Villa Méditerranée
This architecture that is white next to MuCEM is no ordinary’villa’. The edifice that is glossy sports a cantilever over-hanging a pool. Indoors, a viewing gallery using glass-panelled floor (look down if you dare!) , and two or three multimedia that is temporary displays elicit facets of their Mediterranean, make sure they historical aquatic or environmental. Perhaps not the construction, unlike MuCEM itself may be the highlight.
Cours Julien
Cours Julien is centred on by the most vibrant bohemian quarter of marseille. It’s lined with great pubs, bars and music places, and its particular are home to plenty of galleries book shops, tattoo parlours and restaurants. Markets are held on Sunday in the square on stamps or books: blossoms on Saturday and Wednesday, classic novels alternative Saturdays, and days of this week.
Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne
Founded at the mid-19th century, also placed at La Vieille Charité as 1989, this archaeological museum explores Near-Eastern and Mediterranean civilisations to Rome in Mesopotamia. Of particular note is its own Egyptian group, the second largest in France beyond the Louvre, which contains a couple of sarchophagi that is refined. Watch out for a famous decorated noodle vase along with also a Mesopotamian tooth panel.
Jardin du Pharo
Perched high above the southern aspect of the Vieux Port will be the six immaculately grassed hectares of their Jardin du Pharo, the grounds of the Palais du Pharo, that was commissioned by Napoleon III in 1852. With unparalleled views over Marseille, the gardens are ideal and a perfect picnic spot for watching sunsets.
Musée d’Art Contemporain
Creations of Marseille-born sculptor César Baldaccini (1921–98) jostle for space with works by Christo, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Nice New Realists Yves Klein and Ben in this repository for the most modern works held by the Musée Cantini. From the Prado metro station, take bus 23 or 45 to the Haïfa-Marie-Louise stop.
Galerie Trajectoire
This teeny tiny memorial, located across a narrow sloping road in the historical area of Le Panier, supplies a couple of renowned names and artists a platform. With exhibitions and also a beautiful tiny café, Galerie Trajectoire can be an artistic introduction into the town.
Abbaye St-Victor
Lies Abbaye St-Victor, the birthplace of Christianity at Marseille. It has $2 to stop by the crypts, together with guided tours available from 4pm to 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode
Over 2, 000 often-wonderful and rare examples of clothing, tapestry, ceramics and artwork from the 18th century to the present day are displayed round the Château Borély’s neighboring flats.
Musée du Santon
Certainly one of Provence’s most suffering xmas traditions is the santons (plaster-moulded, kiln-fired nativity characters ), first created by Marseillais artisan Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764–1822). This small museum exhibits a number of 18th- and 19thcentury santons (from the Provençal word santoun, significance’little saint’), and runs visits to its own assignments. Its boutique sells everything out of nail-sized dogs and pigs to a complete mas (Provençal farm house ).
Musée Regards de Provence
This niche museum is placed in the city’s former sanitary station, operational from 1948. It’s essentially a graphic art museum exploring diverse depictions of Provence, with over 800 significant functions artists including Vincent Courdouan along with Paul Guigou. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, also there exists a roof top cafe with fine city views.
Fort St-Nicolas
Guarding the southern aspect of Marseille’s harbour (and threatening its some times rebellious citizens( who tried to destroy it throughout the Revolution) is your starshaped, 17th century Fort St-Nicolas, built by Louis XIV. Used as both garrison and prison, it can only be visited by prior arrangement with the tourist division .
