What to see in Marseille

2024 Author: Graham Hoggarth | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 10:26

The Mediterranean city of Marseille is one of the most visited places in France. Its huge port, the magnificent basilica on the top of the hill, narrow and winding streets and the castle of If, shrouded in legends - all this attracts more and more tourists to the city. So what to see in Marseille?

It is impossible to imagine Marseille without its famous port. Now this city is the largest port in the entire country. The coastal area is now almost entirely pedestrianized, and the street that connects the harbor with the city center is full of boutiques, restaurants and architectural monuments. Opposite the port is the Old Town with its splendid cathedral and archaeological museum.

In this city, one of the most ancient monasteries in all of France has survived - the Abbey of Saint-Victor, founded in the 5th century. And the "visiting card" of Marseille is its huge Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, built on a mountain in the neo-Byzantine style.

The infamous Chateau d'If, located on an island four kilometers from the city, brought immense popularity to Marseille. It was here that the famous Count of Monte Cristo, nee Edmond Dantes, languished in a prison cell. Another mysterious prisoner was hiding in the same castle - the Iron Mask. Now in the Chateau d'If, a museum dedicated to these two legendary characters is open.

TOP 10 attractions in Marseille

Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde

The huge Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde rises above Marseille from a 150-meter hill. It is considered the symbol of the city and its most frequently visited attraction.

The basilica consists of the lower chapel, which has survived from the 13th century, and the luxuriously decorated upper church, made in the neo-Byzantine style. Since the 16th century, a fortress was located on this site, built at the same time as the famous Chateau d'If. At the end of the 18th century, it was transformed into a prison, and after the revolution, some members of the royal family were kept in prison here.

In the appearance of the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, its bell tower, crowned with a golden statue of the Madonna and Child, stands out. The height of this tower, together with the sculpture, reaches 65 meters. The architectural complex itself is made of white stone with black stripes. Its construction was completed only in the second half of the 19th century.

The interior design of the basilica is amazing - its mosaic ceiling is supported by graceful columns of striped red and white marble. The dome is also decorated with religious mosaics - Noah's Ark, the receipt of the tablets by Moses, and many other stories from the Bible are presented here. Both in the upper church and in the lower - the Romanesque crypt, miraculous statues of the Virgin Mary have been preserved, which are especially venerated by believers.

Old port

The port has been the heart of Marseille since ancient times. It was founded by the ancient Greeks in the 6th century BC. During the turbulent 17th century, the famous sun king Louis XIV ordered the fortification of the Marseille port - then small defensive forts and an arsenal appeared here.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Marseille port accommodated about 2000 ships and received about 18 thousand merchant ships per year. Nowadays, small yachts and pleasure boats are mainly located here, and there is a noisy fish market every day. The port also houses the picturesque snow-white lighthouse of Santa Maria, built back in 1855.

The old port was converted into a pedestrian zone in 2013. Now this place is wildly popular among tourists. From here, boats leave for the famous Château d'If.

The old port is connected to the city center by Rue La Canbière, where many buildings of the 19th century have been preserved. Now there are many museums, shops and restaurants. And on the other side is the Old Town, better known as the Le Panier quarter.

Rue La Canbière

Rue La Canbière is considered the main street of Marseille. Its length is 1 kilometer - it begins in the Old Port, and ends with the magnificent neo-Gothic Cathedral of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. Curious is the history of its name, which literally translates as "hemp street" - many centuries ago, hemp fields were spread on this place. The street itself was paved by Louis XIV in 1666. Now there are many restaurants, trendy shops, museums and other interesting sights:

The luxurious fashion museum is housed in an elegant four-story mansion from the late 19th century. This house was designed by the famous Baron Haussmann, who modernized all of Paris. The museum itself covers an area of 600 square meters and talks about modern fashion since the 20th century. The neighboring buildings, unsurprisingly, house boutiques and trendy salons.
The monumental building of the stock exchange, executed in neoclassical style, was inaugurated in 1860, the ceremony was attended by Emperor Napoleon III. Its main façade is lavishly decorated with sculptural reliefs and stucco moldings, and on the second floor there is a luxurious balcony with columns. The main hall, which consists of arcade galleries, stands out among the interior spaces. Its floor is made of black and white marble, and the ceiling is elaborately painted. Now the former exchange building houses the Marseille Maritime Museum.
The Church of Saint Vincent de Paul is located at the end of Rue La Canbière. This splendid cathedral was built in 1855-1886 and is considered a masterpiece of neo-gothic architecture. Its two symmetrical spiers are 70 meters high. Inside the church, bright stained-glass windows and an old organ from the early 20th century have been preserved.

Fort of saint john

In the middle of the 17th century, King Louis XIV ordered the Old Port of Marseille to be surrounded by two defensive forts. The massive walls of both buildings are made of curious pink stone. The Fort of St. Nicholas, located near the Abbey of San Victor, is now partially open to tourists - it houses a memorial in memory of the victims of war.

Fort St. John is located on the opposite side, next to the Museum of Roman Docks. This place used to be the hospital of the Order of the Johannites of the 12th century and the watchtower of King Rene I, built in the 15th century. Both of these structures have been incorporated into the modern fort. Curiously, during the French Revolution, the fort of St. John served as a prison for royalists and members of the royal family.

Now the Fort of St. John belongs to the Museum of Mediterranean Civilizations, which was inaugurated in 2013. Its main building in the harbor is connected to the fort by a suspension bridge; the same bridge connects the fort with the church of St. Lawrence near the Roman docks museum.

The main expositions of the Museum of Mediterranean Civilizations are housed in a modern cubic building. It tells about the history of this region: a variety of artifacts, objects of religious worship and everyday life, dating back to ancient times, are presented. On the second floor of the museum there is a restaurant with an open terrace.

Le Panier quarter

Le Panier is also known as the Old Town. It was here that the ancient Greeks founded their first settlements, and it was here that the center of medieval Marseille with its cathedral and town hall was located. Now this area is a labyrinth of winding streets with old buildings, museums and churches. By the way, it is in this quarter that the oldest residential building in Marseille is located - the mansion de Cabre (Hôtel de Cabre), built back in 1535.

The Museum of Roman Docks was opened directly at the archaeological site of the ancient Roman trading post. It displays antique artifacts dating back to the 5th century BC, including amphorae and coins. Also in the museum you can see the remains of a colored mosaic from the 3rd century.

The Museum of Roman Docks is adjoined by the Diamond House, completed at the end of the 16th century. Its curious name is due to the fact that it is built of originally cut stones that resemble cut diamonds. Now this building houses a museum of old Marseille, which tells about the daily life of the townspeople. Here you can see traditional Marseille costume and masterpieces of folk applied art.

The town hall building was built a little later than the Diamond House - in 1673. This baroque building resembles a typical Italian palazzo. On its first floor there are shops, and the upper floors are occupied by the city administration itself. The main facade of the town hall is decorated with luxurious stucco, bas-reliefs with symbols of the Bourbon dynasty and an elegant balustrade. Surprisingly, the first and second floors of the building are not connected by a single staircase; you can go upstairs only through a special passage leading from the neighboring house.

Le Panier's waterfront is dominated by the Cathedral of Saint-Marie-Major.

Cathedral

Cathedral of Saint-Marie-Major

The Cathedral of Saint-Marie-Major was founded by Emperor Napoleon III. The construction was completed only in 1896. Surprisingly, it was possible to partially preserve the original cathedral, built on this site back in the 12th century.

The modern temple is made in a luxurious neo-Byzantine style with the use of marble and onyx. The cathedral is also decorated with curious Venetian mosaics. In the exterior of the temple, an amusing striped portal with two symmetrical towers and a huge dome surrounded by two of the same, but smaller, stand out. The Cathedral of Saint-Marie-Major is considered one of the most spacious - it can simultaneously accommodate more than three thousand people.

By the way, near the cathedral on the embankment there is a tiny church of St. Lawrence, which has been preserved since the 12th century. It is connected by a suspension bridge to the Fort of St. John and the Museum of Mediterranean Civilizations.

Longchamps palace

The Longchamps Palace is located near the Gothic Cathedral of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. This luxurious building is actually built around an old water tower. Moreover, its construction was timed to coincide with the opening of the Marseille Canal, dug specifically to supply the city with clean water.

Now this luxurious palace, completed in 1869, houses two museums at once - natural history and fine arts. The Museum of Fine Arts was opened much earlier than the palace - in 1801 by the decree of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum's collection consisted of expensive paintings and sculptures of the 16th-18th centuries, confiscated from the highest nobility and members of the royal family. Today, the museum exhibits works by such great painters as Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Bruegel, Pietro Perugino, Luca Giordano and José de Ribera. The gem of the collection is a small sculpture by Auguste Rodin, donated to the museum by himself. The museum is located in the left wing of the building.

The Natural History Museum was also founded much earlier than the Palace of Longchamps itself - in 1819. Its exposition is dedicated to the evolution of flora and fauna. Here you can see the skeletons of prehistoric animals, ancient fossils and fossils, as well as embalmed stuffed animals of the fauna that previously lived in the Mediterranean.

Particularly noteworthy is the Longchamps Park, which was opened simultaneously with the palace. It is famous for its luxurious cascading fountain called "Castle of Water", recognized as one of the best in the world. The fountain is decorated with curious sculptures symbolizing the deities of water, and behind it is an artificial grotto. And in the park itself there are many trees planted in the middle of the 19th century, and unusual pavilions in the oriental style.

Abbey of Saint-Victor

The Abbey of Saint-Victor is considered one of the oldest in all of France - it was founded in the 5th century. The monastery is located on the site of an ancient Greek cemetery on a hill. In the XIV century, the abbey was additionally fortified - powerful fortification walls with battlements on the tops still surround the monastery building. After the Great French Revolution, only the ancient church of St. Victor, dating back to 1200, remained from the rich complex.

Now in the temple and in the crypt of the cathedral there are unique ancient sarcophagi dating back to the Early Middle Ages. The relics of the founder of the monastery - John Cassian, Saint Maurice and many other saints and martyrs of the times of the Roman Empire are kept here. The main shrine of the monastery is the miraculous statuette of the Black Madonna, kept in the crypt. It is also worth paying attention to the luxurious old altar of white marble and various sculptures from the Middle Ages.

Boreli Castle

The palace and park ensemble of the Borely castle is the pearl of Marseille. It is located only a couple of kilometers from the Old Port and adjoins the Botanical Garden. The Boreli Castle itself now houses the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts. It is worth noting, however, that another museum dedicated directly to faience is located in the remote Pastre palace.

The palace itself is made in the style of the classicism era. It was completed at the end of the 18th century. In its appearance, an exquisite portal stands out, on the second floor of which there is a balcony with columns. It was possible to preserve the interior decoration of some of the palace premises - the dining room, bedroom, several salons; they are open to tourists as part of the arts and crafts museum.

Among the most outstanding exhibits of the museum, it is worth noting the ceramics of the 17th-18th centuries, decorated with a painting on a nautical theme typical for Marseille. Here you can also see luxurious paintings, masterpieces of Chinese art, as well as ceramics and furniture of the early 20th century in the art nouveau style.

Boreli Park was established in the 17th century. It consists of two parts - a French regular park with a strict layout and an English landscaped garden with a lake, fountains and graceful statues. By the way, it is in this part of the park that a copy of the famous Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde is located.

The promenade connects Boreli Park with the sea. And on the opposite side to it adjoins the city botanical garden, famous for its palm alley, Japanese garden and funny cacti.

Chateau d'If

Chateau d'If was built on an island four kilometers from Marseille in the twenties of the 16th century. Initially, it was supposed to perform a defensive function, but soon turned into a famous prison for especially dangerous criminals. It is believed that it was here that the famous prisoner in the iron mask, the alleged brother of King Louis XIV, was kept.

However, the most famous prisoner of the Château d'If is the Count of Monte Cristo, invented by Alexandre Dumas. The popularity of this literary hero brought fame to the Isle of If. Already in 1890 a museum was opened here. On the first floor of the fortress, there is the very same chamber of Edmond Dantes, connected by a manhole with a dungeon where another character in the novel lived - Abbot Faria.

The Chateau d'If hosts film screenings of films about the famous Count of Monte Cristo, here you can also buy souvenirs related to the work of Alexandre Dumas. You can get to the island by boat from Marseille.