Marseille is the second largest city in France, both in population as well as in area, as well as being the largest commercial port in the country, making it one of the most important cities. Marseille is perhaps not the type of city that you immediately fall in love with. However, it is the ideal city for people not afraid to discover a real place with real people. Even though it is surrounded by a number of historical buildings, this city is a modern city with charming beaches and shopping centres.
The best-known part of Marseille is the old port, Le Vieux-Port. In the mornings, fishermen sells their trade by auction in the fish market, opposite the boats. Its streets are lined with restaurants and cafes, as well as galleries. The livliest part of this district is Place Thiars, where good quality restaurants stand side by side. Another popular attraction in this district is the Theatre National de la Criee.
A walk through Le Panier, which literally means "basket", takes you around Provençal pedestrian streets which are lined with multi-colored buildings. This is the oldest area of Marseille, and attractions rich in history include la Major, la place des Moulins, the Clocher des Accoules and la Vieille Charite, an old monument found in the middle of the area which now hosts museums and exhibitions.
Place Jean Jaures, locally known as La Plaine, provides a wide assortment of restaurants, pubs and bars. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday the Plaine market is the place to shop. Just along from La Plaine, Le Cours Julien is the trendy area of Marseille. It is a popular hangout area among teenagers, due to its variety of bookstores, cabarets, cafés, fountains and theaters. One can also wander around the antique shops and clothing boutiques, like Madame Zaza of Marseille.
La Place Castellane is a square with a grand fountain/sculpture/column in the center, surrounded by cafés, bars and cinemas such as Prado and Cesar. This busy square is not to be confused with another place called La Castellane - a poor saburb of Marseille where the famous football player Zinedine Zidane was born.
La Corniche is a walkway and a road that winds along the Mediterranean coast, providing lovely views of the sea, the Chateau d'If - a small offshore island fortress famous from the novel The Comte de Monte-Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo), and les Calanques. The fanciest villas are also found in this district. The Palais de Pharo and Vallon des Auffes are also great places for walks in this area.
Marseille Airport Car Hire
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