Even in the event you solely have someday in Marseille, it is loads of time to see the highest sights of the town. I’ve ready a one-day itinerary for you, together with loads of ideas to get probably the most out of an ideal 24 hours in Marseille.
Marseille is a shocking metropolis by any customary, its Outdated Port gracefully lined with low-rise buildings on one facet and a whole bunch of small boats on the opposite, the type of view that may stick in your thoughts till you lastly rush to purchase your ticket.
Up on the hill, an imposing basilica stands guard. Within the distance, a fortress on a rock at sea impressed one of many excellent historic novels of all time.
Marseille is a magnificence.
I spent ten days in Marseille not way back however I reside in France and the town is simply over three hours by practice from my doorstep.
Most individuals haven’t got that a lot time. Typically, the town is a one-day cruise cease alongside the Mediterranean, or a one-day journey in the event you occur to be close by, say in Avignon or the Luberon.
Someday is probably not a lot, however it is sufficient to see the excessive factors of the town. Right here, let me present you.
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The town’s story begins round 6000 BCE, when a gaggle of Greek merchants from Phocaea − modern-day Turkey − went off to discover a new house, ending up on the coast of southern Gaul.
An area tribe known as the Ligurians lived there, and the king’s daughter, Gyptis, acquired to decide on her husband by providing him a glass of wine throughout a ceremony. The completely satisfied recipient was none aside from Protis, chief of the Phocaeans. They married and collectively based Massilia, the town we now know as Marseille.
By the point Julius Caesar launched his conquest of Gaul in 58 BCE, Massalia had already established itself as a significant hyperlink between the Greek and Roman worlds. A lot of that Greek heritage light, and Marseille prospered as a Roman metropolis till it was captured by the Visigoths and ultimately declined, annexed by the County of Provence within the tenth century.
Many ups and downs adopted, together with two plagues, invasions and partial destruction throughout World Warfare II. In the present day, Marseille is a melting pot, which is a part of its drawback but additionally a part of its attraction. (You may delve extra deeply into the town’s historical past in Depraved Metropolis: The Many Cultures of Marseille.)
And now, able to spend a day in Marseille? This is a fast overview of what your itinerary might appear to be.
MARSEILLE IN ONE DAY: ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
- 6:30 AM: Dawn at Notre-Dame de la Garde
- 8:00 AM: Morning espresso at La Caravelle
- 9:00 AM: Discover Le Panier district
- 10:45 AM: Go to Mucem and the Fort St. Jean
- 12:30 AM: Lunch at Cours Julien
- 2:00 PM: Boat journey to Château d’If
- 4:30 PM: Stroll alongside Vieux-Port, go to cleaning soap museum or Musée Longchamp
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at Chez Fonfon
- 9:00 PM: Stroll alongside the Corniche Kennedy again to city
Detailed information to spending someday in Marseille
A phrase of warning: it is a PACKED itinerary. A few of you could need to courageous it. Others may select just a few issues and discover these extra in depth. You may combine and match at will – you do not have to do all of it!
Notre-Dame de la Garde
Start your day on the iconic basilica, Notre-Dame de la Garde, to observe a panoramic dawn over Marseille. Affectionately generally known as “La Bonne Mère” (The Good Mom), has been a logo of safety for Marseille’s inhabitants since its consecration in 1864.
The basilica’s gilded inside, properly price exploring ©OffbeatFranceThe basilica’s Neo-Byzantine structure, designed by Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, is putting, whether or not you want this model or not.
From nearly wherever in Marseille, not solely are you able to see the basilica but additionally the bell tower with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary holding the toddler Jesus. The statue, by the best way, occurs to be hole, and a staircase inside leads as much as her eyes, though that is closed to the general public.
The location began as a Thirteenth-century chapel which was fortified within the sixteenth century to defend the town, however ultimately destroyed in the course of the French Revolution.
Inside, the basilica is adorned with intricate mosaics and ex-votos, tokens of gratitude from sailors and fishermen who consider the Good Mom watched over them at sea.
The panoramic views alone make a go to worthwhile…
One of many panoramic views from the basilica over Marseille ©OffbeatFranceGiven the early hour, public transportation could also be restricted (the bus begins at 7am). Contemplate arranging a taxi or utilizing a rideshare service like Bolt or Uber to achieve the basilica.
By the point you permit, the bus needs to be working. It is Quantity 60 and leaves from the small sq. on the basilica’s entrance. Get off at Vieux Port. La Caravelle is shut by.
An alternative choice is to stroll down from the basilica. However a phrase of warning: that is going to be an extended day so that you would possibly need to save your vitality!
Morning espresso at La Caravelle
In the event you rushed out to catch the dawn and are determined for espresso, head for La Caravelle. It is a historic bar, with a maritime vibe, a favourite with locals and guests because the Nineteen Twenties. It is on the primary ground of the Hôtel Belle-Vue, so you will get nice views of the harbor and may watch the town get up.
You may actually have a full breakfast right here however make it fast!
Le Panier District
A couple of minutes’ stroll from La Caravelle and you will be within the coronary heart of Le Panier, Marseille’s oldest neighborhood, based by the Phoceans.
This is without doubt one of the hottest components of the town, nearly an excessive amount of so, when crowds overrun its slim streets seeking colourful façades, artisan boutiques and galleries.
By going off season, you will benefit from the space much more, and with out hundreds of vacationers, it can additionally really feel way more genuine.
A lot of Le Panier seems to be because it has for hundreds of years, though a part of it was destroyed by Nazi forces throughout World Warfare II and rebuilt within the mid-Nineteenth century. Nonetheless, the guts of Le Panier stays unchanged.
A typical road in Le Panier ©OffbeatFranceA go to to La Vieille Charité, a putting Seventeenth-century almshouse designed by architect Pierre Puget, is crucial. Initially constructed as a poorhouse, it is now a cultural heart and museum (and likewise has a clear bathroom, in case you are looking out).
La Vieille Charité in Marseille’s Le Panier district ©OffbeatFranceYOU COULD TAKE AN ORGANIZED TOUR…
If you do not have the time or inclination to arrange the whole lot your self, this tour covers various the bases − in half a day, so you possibly can see the remaining!
Mucem and Fort Saint-Jean
Whenever you emerge from the Panier, you will most likely be in entrance of Cathédrale La Main. I would not spend an excessive amount of time inside − I discovered it extra beautiful from the surface. Simply earlier than the cathedral, you would possibly see a line in your left, for a number of the greatest ice cream on the town.
Cathédrale La Main in Marseille ©OffbeatFranceThroughout from the cathedral and to your left, comply with the water again in the direction of the Vieux Port to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, or Mucem. It is large and you will not be capable of do it justice in an hour-and-a-half, however it’s a begin.
It is an architectural marvel, with a latticework façade that symbolizes the connection between land and sea, given Marseille’s position as a crossroads of cultures.
One of many walkways across the Mucem, and a closeup of the museum’s lattice-work. You may see Notre Dame de la Garde on the hill past ©OffbeatFranceInside, you will discover momentary reveals coping with totally different aspects of Mediterranean tradition, from meals to historical past, relying on whenever you go to. In the event you’re an underwater cave fan, subsequent door is the Cosquer Museum, which replicates a prehistoric cave discovered underwater additional alongside the coast.
After the Mucem, stroll again into city by means of Fort Saint-Jean, constructed in 1660 by Louis XIV. Curiously, this fort was constructed as a defence towards attackers but additionally to keep watch over the native inhabitants, to make sure their loyalty to the crown. Its walkways and gardens are a pleasure to wander round and look out over the town and sea.
Cours Julien
By now you’ve got labored up an urge for food and in the event you’re a fan of road artwork, you will not need to miss the Cours Julien.
This was as soon as the town’s major fruit and vegetable market, from about 1860 to 1970, however now it’s a hub for artists and creatives, with tons of road artwork and murals and graffiti, a few of which you will like, and a few of which you do not. However the space is famend and you must see for your self.
Even you probably have restricted time, you possibly can nonetheless catch a fast lunch at one of many eating places across the sq., and discover the facet streets for some road artwork.
The Cours Julien has a world culinary scene, with all types of world eating places − Ethiopian, Palestinian, Brazilian, Indian… and French, in fact. Most are small, informal institutions and in the event you get there early, you must simply discover a desk.
The streets round Cours Julien are stuffed with colourful mural artwork ©OffbeatFranceIt is a 15-minute stroll from the tip of the Vieux Port, at Quai des Belges, to Cours Julien. In the event you’re saving your vitality, seize a rideshare or taxi to get right here, or take the subway: Metro Line 1 at Vieux-Port in the direction of La Rose for one cease and get off at Saint-Charles. Then switch to Metro Line 2 in the direction of Sainte-Marguerite Dromel and get off at Notre-Dame du Mont – Cours Julien (2 stops, roughly 5 minutes). You may arrive proper within the coronary heart of issues.
Château d’If
In the event you lunched in Cours Julien, you possibly can stroll again in 20 minutes to the ferry station or hop the metro again the best way you got here.
The timing may be very tight however to me, this journey was one of many highlights of my go to to Marseille. In the event you’ve learn the Depend of Monte Cristo, you would possibly really feel the identical.
This formidable fortress, constructed between 1527 and 1529 beneath King François I, was initially meant to defend Marseille from sea invasions. Nonetheless, it gained notoriety as a state jail, immortalized in Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Depend of Monte Cristo.” Exploring its storied cells and ramparts presents a tangible connection to literary and historic narratives.
Ferries to the rocky outcrop go away each half-hour or so, however schedules fluctuate relying on the season. Be sure to test their web site, and reserve your ticket upfront. In the event you’re on the fence about visiting the island, you possibly can learn what I needed to say in regards to the Château d’If right here.
The forbidding Château d’If seen from the approaching ferry ©OffbeatFranceWhen you’re again from the Château d’If, you possibly can stroll alongside the Vieux-Port, chill out in a café, or, why not go to the Savonnerie Marseillaise, the small cleaning soap museum? As you recognize, Marseille cleaning soap is world well-known, and this little museum exhibits off its historical past. It is tiny and will not take lengthy, however you will get insights into the normal craft of soap-making, a observe deeply embedded within the metropolis’s historical past.
If you have not learn the Monte Cristo e-book or seen the film, you would possibly need to give the Château d’If a miss and spend extra time on the Cours Julien, or head to the Palais Longchamp for some extra “classical” artwork.
Palais Longchamp
The Palais Longchamp was additionally a spotlight of my go to (the whole lot in Marseille drew me so selecting is known as a problem!)
The Palais commemorates Marseille’s Nineteenth-century conquer water shortage − and the central fountain on the entrance symbolizes abundance. Accomplished in 1869, it celebrates the Canal de Marseille, which channeled water from the Durance River to the town, assuaging continual shortages.
Fountains in entrance of the Palais Longchamp in Marseille ©OffbeatFranceArchitect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu (of the Notre-Dame de la Garde fame) designed the palace, which homes two museums: the Musée des Beaux-Arts, showcasing European work and sculptures, and the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, with pure historical past collections.
I visited the Beaux-Arts primarily to view a number of work associated to the Nice Plague of Marseille in 1720, which killed greater than half of Marseille’s inhabitants of 90,000 on the time.
One of many work, by Michel Serre, is known as “View of the Port and Hôtel de Ville of Marseilles in the course of the Plague of 1720.” The is Jacques-Louis David’s portray, “Saint Roch Interceding with the Virgin for the Plague-Stricken.”
A part of Michel Serre’s portray – I could not get your complete factor into the body!An fascinating apart: the observatory within the park, inbuilt 1864, as soon as housed the world’s largest telescope, with an 80cm/32in diameter, serving as a serious analysis facility for over 140 years.
You may take Metro Line 1 from Vieux-Port in the direction of La Rose and alight at Cinq Avenues – Longchamp station (4 stops, roughly 7 minutes). Palais Longchamp is a brief stroll from the station. Simply be sure to have your metropolis GPS on since you won’t see the Palais instantly.
Or, stroll up the long-lasting Canebière, which the Marseillais contemplate their equal of the Champs-Elysées, and hop the T2 tram for 4 stops and get off at Longchamp.
Dinner at Chez Fonfon
If I am suggesting this specific restaurant, it is solely to get you out to the Vallée des Auffes and the Corniche, which you will not in any other case see until you’re taking the Hop On Hop Off bus.
Chez Fonfon is famend however just lately has suffered from many poor evaluations for service. It is an costly restaurant, so it issues. I am unable to decide, not having tried it myself. You may reserve right here and you’ll learn evaluations right here.
I selected Chez Madie les Galinettes (here is their Fb web page) alongside the Vieux-Port, additionally a bit dear (most are) as a result of I might already visited the Corniche and wished one thing close by. It was fairly good, despite the fact that I had nothing I might evaluate it to.
Le Ruhl and Chez Michel even have good reputations, as do Chez Loury and the Miramar alongside the Vieux-Port.
In the event you go to Chez Fonfon, you’ll take pleasure in a stroll again from the quaint fishing harbor of the Vallon des Auffes to city, alongside the fantastic Corniche promenade.
Vallon des Auffes in MarseilleThe best way again is generally through Bus 83 however I’ve discovered it to be overcrowded within the evenings, a lot in order that it typically would not cease. It is a ten-minute stroll to the Plage des Catalans on the fringe of Marseille, or half an hour all the best way to the Vieux-Port. The realm is properly lit and extremely frequented, particularly on summer time evenings.
The Plage des Catalans, on the fringe of Marseille, alongside the Corniche Kennedy, which stretches alongside the ocean for 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) ©OffbeatFranceNOT IN THE MOOD FOR BOUILLABAISSE?
An excellent possibility is that this night meals tour that takes you across the Cours Julien, so in the event you’re not having lunch among the many road artwork, you possibly can nonetheless catch it within the night.
An alternative choice, if you would like to remain close to the Vieux Port, is a stroll alongside the Cours Honoré-d’Estienne-d’Orves, a pedestrian road stuffed with cafés and eating places that runs parallel to the south facet of the port.
Getting round Marseille
Marseille has glorious public transportation and you may get round to all of the locations on this itinerary by utilizing the town community.
You should buy tickets individually, get a 24h transport go, or purchase a full-day Marseille CityPass, which incorporates each transportation and most of the metropolis’s points of interest, together with its museums.
Given that you just solely have a day, you would possibly contemplate taking a Hop On Hop Off tour of Marseille. I attempted it for a day and taking the bus gave me a superb sense of the town’s format. It additionally made getting round a bit simpler, particularly to neighborhoods with much less public transportation.
On this journey it was winter and as you possibly can see, I did not should combat for one of the best seat! ©OffbeatFranceJourney suggestions for someday in Marseille
- Don’t drive. Critically. In the event you arrive in Marseille with a rental automobile, park it for the day and decide it up whenever you’re accomplished. Parking is troublesome, and driving right here requires a severe set of nerves.
- In the event you’re planning on consuming a bouillabaisse, make a reservation. Relying on the time of yr, one of the best eating places will be crowded.
- Do you get seasick? In the event you do, carry alongside a few anti-nausea bracelets or drugs for the boat journey to the Château d’If.
- Be sure to have some type of map. Use a bodily one, or obtain the Marseille map from Maps.me or Google Maps.
- Bear in mind that Marseille is usually thought of much less protected than different giant French cities. Security is relative, nevertheless, so learn this piece for the actual security state of affairs in Marseille.
- As is the case all through France, it’s at all times good to concentrate on native etiquette, the one and solely obligatory points being “hey” and “goodbye” whenever you enter and go away a store (bonjour and au revoir). You may obtain these primary phrases in French – only a few however very helpful.
- Marseille presents a 24-hour go for limitless entry to buses, trams, and the metro, which will be handy for this itinerary.• Advance Reservations: Contemplate reserving tickets upfront for the boat journey to Château d’If and dinner at Chez Fonfon to make sure availability.• Palais Longchamp Opening Hours: The park is open every day from 9:00 AM to eight:00 PM. The museums inside the palace sometimes function from 10:00 AM to six:00 PM. Guarantee your go to aligns with these hours.• Time Administration: Be aware of the time spent at every location to stick to the schedule, particularly contemplating journey
Earlier than you go…
Do you’ve gotten greater than someday?
Attempt one in all these day journeys from Marseille and get to know the neighborhood.
Though you possibly can see the highlights in someday, please attempt to keep longer − that is such a pleasant metropolis that you will be doing the whole lot you possibly can to return again!
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