On highway
A7 and route N7, 700 km. from Paris, 270 from Lyon. Marignane International Airport
of Marseilles.
St. Charles Train Station, 3h from Paris by TGV (high speed train).
Although
part of the region of Provence, Marseilles has a soul of its own. Founded
in 600 b.c. by the Greek sailors of Phocaea, this great city is the
oldest in France and surely the most complex.
Second largest city in France and the largest
commercial port, Marseilles, in the time of the French colonies, was the
gateway to the Mediterranean, Today Marseilles remains a capitol of southern
Europe, cosmopolitan and exuberant, with its
picturesque old port, its Bouillabaisse and its folklore. Difficult
to know, Marseilles does not open itself up to visitors spontaneously.
The old town ("Panier")
and port, the cliff road high above the sea, the wild inlets plunging
into the deep blue water for 20 km. to Cassis,
this is the Marseilles of the tourist guide. But the commercial port,
the airport, the oil industry, the large population all play an important
part in the ecomomic role ot the whole ot Provence and complete the picture
of a city rich not only economically but in culture, art and science.
To discover its unique character and beauty, one
must leave the center of town and explore some of the "quartier"
of which there are more than 100. Each quartier is a little Provencal
village of its own with a church,
a playing area for the game of Boules and the obligatory plane trees.
One can climb to 162 m, above sea level to visit
the church of the patron saint of sailors, Notre Dame de La Garde. One
can admire the cliffs the "Estaque" inspiration to Cezanne or
go to Treille to pay homage to the well loved Provencal writer Marcel
Pagnol, Marseilles can also be visited from the coast.
From the islands "lles de Frioul" and
the Chateau d'If with its legend of the Count of Monte Cristo, one has
a beautiful view of this ancient maritime site.
Historic sites to see:
Cathedral of the Major.
La Vieille Charité (old quarter of Panier).
Notre Dame de la Garde (a 19th century basilica).
The Jardin des Vestiges (ruins).
the Palaces of Longchamps and Pharo...
Things to do:
Water sports (23 beaches), sailing (5 ports),
fishing, golf, tennis, squash,
salt water therapy, night clubs, theaters,
a cycling and soccer stadium, 21 rnuseums...
Français 
Although
part of the region of Provence, Marseilles has a soul of its own. Founded
in 600 b.c. by the Greek sailors of Phocaea, this great city is the
oldest in France and surely the most complex. 
Difficult
to know, Marseilles does not open itself up to visitors spontaneously.
a playing area for the game of Boules and the obligatory plane trees.
