Marseille |
| Thursday, 11 September 2008 14:50 |
 2,600 years of history and a landscape that has inspired writers and artists: Marseille is the oldest city in France and almost as big a tourist magnet as Paris. Sitting on a 525 ft cliff is the city’s main landmark: Notre-Dame de la Garde. The spire peaks at 135 ft, crowned by a statue of Mother Mary. The interior design is heavy on mosaics and icons, and the hike up the cliff is rewarded with a great view over the city and the Mediterranean Sea. The most famous street in town is Canabière. Once contesting Paris’ Champs-Élysées for the title of the most glamorous avenue in the country, it suffered a long period of decay before returning to its old glitter ways. Gourmet restaurants, cafes and designer boutiques have long returned. At the end the street becomes Boulevard Longchamp where you can visit Palais Longchamp, a heavily decorated town palace featuring lavish fountains and countless sculptures. It houses the best art museum in Marseille, focusing on paintings from the 18th and 19th century. To experience some authentic Mediterranean flair go to the Vieux Port where professional and amateur chefs bargain for the fishermen’s fresh catch. The best view over the old harbor is from Quartier du Panier, Marseille’s oldest district. The narrow alleys are lined with a great mixture of 16th century and modern buildings. Every day you can catch ferries leaving the harbor to go to Îles d’Frioul, a small group of islands a good mile off the shore, home to about 100 permanent inhabitants. On the islet If you can visit the Château d’If, a mighty fortress turned prison, though these days all visits are voluntary. The chateau gained fame as one of the sites in Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Christo. About 12 miles east of Marseille you should visit Cassis, a small holiday town on the sea. A castle sitting on a 330 ft cliff is not just a nice photo shot, it is also one of the most exclusive hotels in the area. Should a night at the castle not exhaust your budget you can spend your last Euros in the Cassis Casino. Your ride to Cassis will take you through the Massif des Calanques where rocky needles of white chalk point out of clear azure water. In some of the caves, washed out by water, pre-historic wall paintings and carvings were found, dating back almost 30,000 years. The area can be explored by car, by boat, or on a long trek. If at the end of your trip to Marseille you have some time left we recommend you simply take your car out on the roads along the coast or into the green valleys of the Provence region. The winding streets lead past small fishing villages where you are bound to eat the best Bouillabaisse (fish soup) or to scenic vineyards. |
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