Dear Marseille

H i  g u y s !

If you’ve read my previous article about Aix en Provence, you could be interested by today’s topic which is the famous city of Marseille. 

So, plan a short trip in the south of France for Spring doesn’t sound like the best idea of the week ?

Firstly, I could give you quick good to know facts about Marseille before your first visit there.

This is the oldest and the 2^nd largest city of France (after Paris), and gets the largest European suburban park : Calanques National Park.

Regarding the climate, no worries guys, there are 300 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature of 19°C during spring (I guess you’re now booking your flight..)

So, by arriving to Marseille, one of the first thing you have to visit is Notre Dame de la Garde. It has been build in 1524 on the top of the hill to protect Marseille from the armies of Charles the Fifth. But the Garde hill acquires all its meaning as a sacred as well as an urban symbol with the construction of the basilica in 1853. From then on, the silhouette of the building becomes inseparable from the image of Marseille. Nowadays, all the marseillais called it “La bonne mère”,.

From the 01/01/2016 until 31/05/2016, Notre Dame is open from 07:30am to 07pm, and the entry is free.

 At the lunch time, I advise you to walk from the city center and go to the Vallon des Auffes (it is just a short walk from the Old Port). This is a typical fishing port and an enjoyable and peaceful location. Spring is the best time to go there before the beginning of the summer (when the number of tourists is increasing a lot). This little cove could be also a secret swimming spot ! You'll find several restaurant, I could recommend the restaurant “Chez Fonfon”, best place for a good bouillabaisse.

During the afternoon, you could enjoy the sun at the Calanques National Park. You really have to plan a walk or a hike there, smells and colors are fantastics ! You will find more details about pre-organized trip to go there on the Official Tourism website of Marseille :

http://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/

Restaurants around the Old Port can be pricey so explore the backstreets for the best bargains. I am sure that you will find a nice place to take dinner and a great glass of french wine at the Place aux huiles..

Some tips for your trip in Marseille :

     

      -  You can pay the driver to travel on the bus, but it's cheaper to buy tickets in advance.

  

I   -  If you're planning to visit a lot of museums and major sights, consider the Marseille City Pass, available from the Tourist Office.

v     -  Some French formal greetings. Say "Bonjour" (Hello) when you enter a shop, and "Bonne journée" (Have a good day) as you leave to get appreciative service.

See you soon !