MULTICULTURAL MARSEILLE | DREAM TRIP PART III

In 2013, we embarked on an incredible journey to mark our 40th anniversary.
Five years later, wanderlust struck again!
This is a continuing series. Come along for the ride, will you?

Sept. 10, 2018

Multicultural Marseille, Dream Trip Part III — Map data @2019 GeoBasis-DE/BKG(@2009), Google, Inst. Geogr. Nacional

Vive la France!

Back in the ’60s, when my family lived in Germany, we visited Strasbourg, Versailles and Paris, but not Marseille. To be honest, I hadn’t thought of going there, but it was the first port of call on the cruise itinerary.

Hubby, who has never been to France, even though he grew up in neighbouring Italy, expressed an interest, so we booked a shore excursion.

Marseille was originally founded circa 600 BC as the Greek colony of Massalia. It was populated by settlers from Phocaea (modern Foça, Turkey), becoming the preeminent Greek city of southern Gaul.

The city-state retained its independence and commercial empire throughout the western Mediterranean, even as Rome expanded into Western Europe and North Africa, but lost it during Caesar’s Civil War, in 49 B.C.

Marseille continued to prosper as a Roman city, becoming an early center of Christianity in the Western Roman Empire.

Today, Marseille is France’s largest city on the Mediterranean coast and has the biggest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships.

Because of this, Marseille has always been one of the main gateways into France. This has attracted many immigrants and made Marseille a cosmopolitan melting pot.

Currently, over one-third of the population of Marseille can trace their roots back to Italy. Marseille also has the second-largest Corsican and Armenian populations of France. Other significant communities include Maghrebis, Spaniards, Turks, Comorians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Romanians and Poles.

The city was deemed European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017, hosting soccer matches for the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016.

Marseille Old Port
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Old Port main square

Old Port Main Square

Street signs on the square

Old Port antique carousel

The Chateau D’If, located on the island of the same name sits 1.5 km (~1 mile) offshore. It was built in the 16th century as a defensive fortress and later became a prison until the end of the 19th century.

It was demilitarized and opened to the public in September 1890. Famous as the setting for Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, the former prison has become a popular tourist attraction.

This war memorial at the Old Port (Monument Aux Morts D’Orient) is dedicated to fallen soldiers of the Eastern and Oriental armies from World War I. It was erected in 1927 and classified a historic monument in 2011.

The site also provides a magnificent view of the bay of Marseille, its islands, and the entrance of the Valon des Auffes.

The Vallon des Auffes is a small traditional fishing haven, situated 2.5 km south-west of the Old Port.
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The Palais Longchamp is a monument that houses the Art and Natural History Museums. It was created to celebrate the construction of the Canal de Marseille, which was built to bring water from the Durance River to the city.

Although the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Orleans in November 1839, the building took 30 years to complete, partly because of the enormous expense and partly because of difficulties with local regulations.

Designed by the architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, the building was centred on the structure of the elaborate fountain known as the château d’eau.

Palais Longchamps

Gardens of the Palais

Palais courtyard

The central fountain

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This monument with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary (Vierge Dorée) was commissioned by Pope Pius IX in 1854 and erected in 1857 on a Marseille street corner.

Notre-Dame de la Garde (literally: Our Lady of the Guard) is a Catholic basilica. It was built on the foundations of an ancient fort at the highest natural point in Marseille, a 149 m (489 ft) limestone outcropping south of the Old Port. Construction of the basilica began in 1852 and lasted for 21 years.

The site of a popular Assumption Day pilgrimage, it is the most visited in Marseille.
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Basilique Notre Dame de la Guard exterior, Marseille, France

Overview of Marseille from the Basilica grounds. Well worth the 200 step climb with arthritic knees!
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Except where noted, photos
©Debbie D. & thedogladysden.com

Have you ever been to France?
If so, whereabouts? Did you enjoy it?
If not, would you like to go?Do you have a travel bucket list?
Looking forward to your comments!