Located on the southern coast of France, Marseille is France’s largest city on the Mediterranean Sea as well as the country’s largest commercial port. It is the oldest city in France, founded near 600 BC. It wasn’t always a French city. Originally, Marseille was first settled by the Greek.
Marseille has a long and colorful history that includes being the site of many historically significant events in Roman and Greek history, the place where Mary Magdalene once preached with her brother Lazarus and the place where tens of thousands of people lost their lives to a number of bouts with various forms of The Plague and Black Death.
Since the 1950s, over one million immigrants have arrived at the port of Marseille and went on to become permanent residents of the city. Some originally came as tourists, but never left. In this article, we’re going to show you some of the best places to visit in Marseille if you, too, should find yourself as a tourist in the city.
1. Church Basilique
Notre Dame de La Garde – Some will argue that if you’ve seen one old church, you’ve seen them all. That’s not true because each one has something that the others do not offer. The Basilique Notre Dame de La Garde is one such church. It’s a massive 19th Century building whose focal point is the 30 foot golden statue of the Virgin Mary that sits atop the building. Inside the church, the murals and crypt are also fascinating sights to see.
2. Château d’If
The Château d’If (House of If) is located on a tiny island, aptly named If. Built as a castle in the 16th Century, it was later converted to a prison. Literature fans who have read the book The Count of Monte Cristo will instantly recognize Château d’If as being the setting of the storyline in the book.
3. Palais du Pharo
Palais du Pharo is a sprawling compound overlooking the sea. It was built in the 19th Century as the home of Napoleon III. The front of the facade faces Château d’If.
4. Jardin des Vestiges
Also known as – Garden of Ruins – Some important history of Marseille might have never been discovered, if not for the construction of a shopping mall in the 1960s. During the construction process, Marseille’s old city walls and a number of statues and monuments were uncovered together in this Garden of Ruins.
5. Abbaye St. Victor
The Abbaye St. Victor is Marseille’s oldest church, built in the 5th Century. The structure was erected on the site of a Christian martyr’s tomb. Today, the catacombs and the crypt of the church attract lots of visitors.
6. Iles de Frioul
The Iles de Frioul are a pair of islands off the coast of Marseille where a large castle is located. The castle has had additions made to it overtime, increasing its already massive size. Historically, these islands were used to quarantine cholera victims as well as to house German soldiers during World War II. Today, nature has taken its course and the islands have grown up around the ruins of the castle, making for some great exploring!
7. Unité d’Habitation
Unité d’Habitation is an apartment complex that was way ahead of its time when constructed in 1952. The 17 floor structure has been lauded for its creative use of glass and concrete, but also for its all-inclusive design. The complex was built with an all-inclusive idea in mind, meaning there are shops, restaurants and other businesses that residents might need right on site. Unité d’Habitation is one of Marseille’s most popular landmarks.
8. Le Vieux Port
Le Vieux Port is Marseille’s old harbor in the heart of the Historic District. You can while away an afternoon watching the ships come and go or look on while the fishermen haul in their daily catches. You can also catch a boat at Le Vieux Port to one of the outlying islands with points of interest like those mentioned above. The Le Vieux Port is a great place to kick back and watch the world float by.
9. The Calanques
The Calanques are one of Marseille’s best kept secrets. They are a pair of fjords off the beaten path that boast some of the most stunning scenery in the region – including a gorgeous backdrop of cliffs flanked by sparkling turquoise waters.
10. Phare de Sainte Marie
The lighthouse of Phare de Sainte Marie is a popular tourist destination in Marseille, due to having been featured on the hit television show The Amazing Race.
11. La Canebiere
La Canebiere is the oldest street in the city and is lined with quaint shops, cafes and period homes. Not only is it the oldest street in town, it’s also one of the busiest, due to the number of people that flock to the area to peruse the shops and cafes in the area.
12. Marseille Cathedral
The Marseille Cathedral is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Marseille. The cathedral was dedicated in 1896, having took 45 years to complete. Built in the form of the Latin cross, it is the largest cathedral in Europe and is visited by thousands of people each year.
13. Musee de la Faience de Marseille
Musee de la Faience de Marseille is a fantastic ceramics museum that has more than 1,500 pieces on display. They date from modern times, all the way back to the 17th Century. Housed in a historic castle, the Musee de la Faience de Marseille is a really neat place to visit and explore.
14. Plongee Phoceenne Formation
Whether you’re an experienced diver or have never scuba dived before, a trip to the Plongee Phoceenne Formation is definitely in order. Knowledgeable guides and trainers will instruct you every step of the way on how to take advantage of some of the best snorkeling/scuba diving waters in the world – just off the coast of Marseille!
Keep in mind that the weather in Marseille can be kind of extreme so you should research it when planning your trips. Summers are nice, but the long and hot ones like Marseille is famous for could take their toll after a while, especially if you have conditions that compromise your health.
Despite this, summers are usually the busiest time of year in Marseille so if you want to avoid the crowds, plan your trip for the spring for fall instead.
There are certain times of the year that you can expect the crowds to be out in full force in Marseille – and accommodations to be at a bare minimum, if you can find any at all. March is carnival time in the city and hundreds of thousands of people come out to celebrate.
June and July are when the four week long Marseille Festival happens so you can expect things to be just as busy. September is the month-long Sea Festival, which is also a very popular event. Planning well in advance to insure that you get the best accommodations at the best price is imperative if you plan to visit Marseille during any of these times.
