A Visitor's Guide to Marseilles

Set between the hills and the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille offers the better of two distinct worlds. The sea, lined with 14 marinas and more than 20 beaches, attracts divers, sea kayakers and sailors all year round whilst the mountain area entices nature lovers in all ages. You can see them admiring the over 12 mile long Calanques massif's amazing white limestone cliffs plunging into the clear Mediterranean Sea. Divers prefer to appreciate the Calanques from underwater.

The interesting mixture of people and cultures creates a cosmopolitan and multicultural feel to France's oldest and second largest city. Its previous reputation for crime resulted in fewer tourists over a period, but things have changed and Marseille is now a sought-after location on Provence's gorgeous shoreline. The city is divided into sixteen arrondissements twirling out from the Vieux Port, the central spot of the city. La Canebire, the broad avenue leading from the Vieux Port, is in central Marseille and bordered by Quartier Belsunce's small streets to the north and major shopping streets to the south.

Buy a City Pass valid for one or two days to get as much as possible of your visit. I suggest the site of the original Greek settlement in the old town Le Panier, Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde on the hill of La Garde, the Chateau d'If situated on the ancient prison island If, the big Borely Park and at least two of the city's 22 museums and 17 theatres. Sport interested should check out the events at Marseille's stadium seating 60,000 people.

Blues enthusiasts ought to see the annual Garde`n Blues Festival in Jardin de la Barasse-St Marcel 14 - 16 Jun 2007. Visit www.whatsonwhen.com for information on Marseille's numerous dance- and music festivals.

When in Marseille, savor the regions delicious specialties. On several occasions, I have read that Marseille has the planets best bouillabaisse. As I'm a vegetarian I wouldn't know, but you might like it. Order the local "Cassis" blanc-de-blanc from the Cassis region if you rather eat seafood, and don't miss the "navettes", a biscuit flavored with orange blossom, for dessert.

Travelers by car access Marseille from motorways A7, A50, A52 or A55. TGV high-speed train to the Marseille St-Charles station takes 3 hours from Paris, 1, 3 hours from Lyon and 4, 5 hours from Lille. Marignane MRS, France's second largest airport, serves daily flights from French and international destinations. Tourists can also enter Marseille from cruise ships since the city has France's biggest commercial port.