What to do for a Weekend in Marseille
Known for its accent, but also its beauty, the city of Marseille is a true combination of Arts, Craft and Culture and never stopped to charm inhabitants or visitors. It’s always an experience to visit and explore the Phocaean City. Once you discover it, there’s only one thing you want to do: to come back one day!
Treasures of History and Architecture:
Marseille is already an old lady, rich of 26 centuries of History.
From the Greek and Roman Antiquity, the city knew how to keep and preserve its ruins and magnificent past until nowadays. Over watching the Old Port and a part of the city, the basilica Our lady of the Guard is a pure jewel of Neo Byzantine architecture. Not only the façades are charming by their colours, but also the inside. Decorated with ex-votos of seamen, This church is really surprising. Enjoy the views around!
Nearby, you may discover the lovely Saint Victor Abbey. This building is at the same time a cultural and religious place. It is a treasure of the Early Christianity and Romanesque Architecture. It is one of the most beautiful churches in town. You may even see St Lazarus and Mary Magdeleine Cove. It is said, according to a legend, that Magdeleine decided to retire in the Saint Baume Mountain.
Strolling around the left bank of the Old Port, discover St Nicolas Fortress and the famous Criée theatre.
You may also see : The Ruins Park of the Antic Port, The Major Cathedral, The Longchamp Palace, The MUCEM (Museum of the Mediterranean and European Civilisations). Very modern, the MUCEM Museum was inaugurated in June 2013. This big cube was designed by Rudy Ricciotti, and its purpose is to put on the front stage the Mediterranean Culture. The Museum is linked to the St John Fort thanks to a gangway, such as the whole building made of fibre-reinforced concrete. Even if it does look massive, the presence of the glass gives an impression of lightness.
Don't forget t have a walk in the old district, to discover the Vieille Charité former hospital and today a museum , drive to the Estaque district to enjoy the port or la Cité Radieuse made by the famous architect Le Corbusier.
If you want more animation and fun, very often, the Orange Velodrome Stadium organises animations, entertainments and festivals.
Parks and Palaces:
Like in every big city, you can find many parks in Marseille to walk, stroll or just relax. The biggest one is Borely Park. This 17 hectares park holds different parts : an English style garden, A French style Garden, a roses park and an equestrian center. This is one of the favourite park of Marseille inhabitants.
Another place enjoyed by Marseille inhabitants is the Longchamp palace. Actually it is not really a castle, but mostly a water cistern built to bring drinkable water to the city. On the same spot, a Natural history Museum and a Fine Arts Museum take place. Located nearby the Cannebière, this beautiful complex of park and cultural places is one of the most animated places in Marseille.
Marseille beaches, shores and farniente:
You cannot leave Marseille without a relaxing moment on the beach.
Marseille’s shore and littoral are among the most beautiful in France, and the balneary tourism is primordial for the tourism. Stroll through the creeks and enjoy the presence of the sun for 300 days a year. At the South of the city, you may visit the famous creeks uplands: Sormiou, Sugiton and Morgiou, among the most famous. The Prado balneary park is also famous for its mile and a half of nice and lovely sandy beaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfyQppNdDs
The city centre is maybe the best place to get “lost”. Stroll through the small and narrow streets to discover it better, and then finish on the 7th district in the neighbourhood of Endoume.
Drive to the quiet Estaque quarter, famous for the presence of painters such as Cezanne, or Dufy, in the past. Some others good places to go: Malmousque, Maronaise cove, the Monkeys bay, and for the surfing amateurs the Red Point Beach.
Wild Islands
If some of you enjoy a wild escape, it is possible to reach the Frioul Islands from Marseille. Owned by the city since 1971, a shuttle boat transport people every 30 minutes from the port. There, the flora completely changes and is wilder. You can make a stroll in a little village and enjoy the shops and little restaurants.
Nearby, another island is famous: The If Fortress. This building, once a jail, is now well-known for being one of the mythical places of the novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo.
Marcel Pagnol :
Many artists were born in Marseille, but a few could work with such a typical accent of Southern France. Fernandel, is one of them. His accent, his face and large smile and his so deep voice made him one of the most famous French actors.
There is another man who was born in Marseille : Marcel Pagnol. He was a writer, movie maker and producer. The Marseille Trilogy is maybe the most known of his works. The book and movie happen in the city and actually, Marseille is one of the main characters… It is the inhabitants of the city who make the city.
When he was young, Marcel Pagnol and his family used to cross the park of the castle Château de Buzine, when he used to go to his countryside house during the holidays. In 1941, he decided to buy the castle to create movie Studio. Nowadays, the place is still used for exhibitions dedicated to movies, art and culture.
Marseille Flavours !
How can you come in Marseille and not taste the local but so famous beverage : the Pastis !
A walk in the Auffes valley is also the chance to taste some traditional dishes : La Bouillabaisse, Les Pieds paquets, the navettes (biscuits), pistou pasta or the Provençal stew. For the gourmets, you may also taste the squids, the panisse (chickpea floor fried) or the chichi fregi (sort of long fried dough).
Note : If you want to spend a week end in Marseille during Christmas time, you may also enjoy the famous 13 deserts : a long time Provençal and Marseille traditional dishes at the end of Christmas meal.
To know more bout our weenend trip in Marseille : https://www.guidesud.com/en/our-travels/week-end-in-marseille
Treasures of History and Architecture:
Marseille is already an old lady, rich of 26 centuries of History.
From the Greek and Roman Antiquity, the city knew how to keep and preserve its ruins and magnificent past until nowadays. Over watching the Old Port and a part of the city, the basilica Our lady of the Guard is a pure jewel of Neo Byzantine architecture. Not only the façades are charming by their colours, but also the inside. Decorated with ex-votos of seamen, This church is really surprising. Enjoy the views around!
Nearby, you may discover the lovely Saint Victor Abbey. This building is at the same time a cultural and religious place. It is a treasure of the Early Christianity and Romanesque Architecture. It is one of the most beautiful churches in town. You may even see St Lazarus and Mary Magdeleine Cove. It is said, according to a legend, that Magdeleine decided to retire in the Saint Baume Mountain.
Strolling around the left bank of the Old Port, discover St Nicolas Fortress and the famous Criée theatre.
You may also see : The Ruins Park of the Antic Port, The Major Cathedral, The Longchamp Palace, The MUCEM (Museum of the Mediterranean and European Civilisations). Very modern, the MUCEM Museum was inaugurated in June 2013. This big cube was designed by Rudy Ricciotti, and its purpose is to put on the front stage the Mediterranean Culture. The Museum is linked to the St John Fort thanks to a gangway, such as the whole building made of fibre-reinforced concrete. Even if it does look massive, the presence of the glass gives an impression of lightness.
Don't forget t have a walk in the old district, to discover the Vieille Charité former hospital and today a museum , drive to the Estaque district to enjoy the port or la Cité Radieuse made by the famous architect Le Corbusier.
If you want more animation and fun, very often, the Orange Velodrome Stadium organises animations, entertainments and festivals.
Parks and Palaces:
Like in every big city, you can find many parks in Marseille to walk, stroll or just relax. The biggest one is Borely Park. This 17 hectares park holds different parts : an English style garden, A French style Garden, a roses park and an equestrian center. This is one of the favourite park of Marseille inhabitants.
Another place enjoyed by Marseille inhabitants is the Longchamp palace. Actually it is not really a castle, but mostly a water cistern built to bring drinkable water to the city. On the same spot, a Natural history Museum and a Fine Arts Museum take place. Located nearby the Cannebière, this beautiful complex of park and cultural places is one of the most animated places in Marseille.
Marseille beaches, shores and farniente:
You cannot leave Marseille without a relaxing moment on the beach.
Marseille’s shore and littoral are among the most beautiful in France, and the balneary tourism is primordial for the tourism. Stroll through the creeks and enjoy the presence of the sun for 300 days a year. At the South of the city, you may visit the famous creeks uplands: Sormiou, Sugiton and Morgiou, among the most famous. The Prado balneary park is also famous for its mile and a half of nice and lovely sandy beaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfyQppNdDs
The city centre is maybe the best place to get “lost”. Stroll through the small and narrow streets to discover it better, and then finish on the 7th district in the neighbourhood of Endoume.
Drive to the quiet Estaque quarter, famous for the presence of painters such as Cezanne, or Dufy, in the past. Some others good places to go: Malmousque, Maronaise cove, the Monkeys bay, and for the surfing amateurs the Red Point Beach.
Wild Islands
If some of you enjoy a wild escape, it is possible to reach the Frioul Islands from Marseille. Owned by the city since 1971, a shuttle boat transport people every 30 minutes from the port. There, the flora completely changes and is wilder. You can make a stroll in a little village and enjoy the shops and little restaurants.
Nearby, another island is famous: The If Fortress. This building, once a jail, is now well-known for being one of the mythical places of the novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo.
Marcel Pagnol :
Many artists were born in Marseille, but a few could work with such a typical accent of Southern France. Fernandel, is one of them. His accent, his face and large smile and his so deep voice made him one of the most famous French actors.
There is another man who was born in Marseille : Marcel Pagnol. He was a writer, movie maker and producer. The Marseille Trilogy is maybe the most known of his works. The book and movie happen in the city and actually, Marseille is one of the main characters… It is the inhabitants of the city who make the city.
When he was young, Marcel Pagnol and his family used to cross the park of the castle Château de Buzine, when he used to go to his countryside house during the holidays. In 1941, he decided to buy the castle to create movie Studio. Nowadays, the place is still used for exhibitions dedicated to movies, art and culture.
Marseille Flavours !
How can you come in Marseille and not taste the local but so famous beverage : the Pastis !
A walk in the Auffes valley is also the chance to taste some traditional dishes : La Bouillabaisse, Les Pieds paquets, the navettes (biscuits), pistou pasta or the Provençal stew. For the gourmets, you may also taste the squids, the panisse (chickpea floor fried) or the chichi fregi (sort of long fried dough).
Note : If you want to spend a week end in Marseille during Christmas time, you may also enjoy the famous 13 deserts : a long time Provençal and Marseille traditional dishes at the end of Christmas meal.
To know more bout our weenend trip in Marseille : https://www.guidesud.com/en/our-travels/week-end-in-marseille
sheral 03/01/2019 à 08h14
I also spent a really good time at Wild Islands while I was visited this most amazing and alluring city came back with unforgettable memories. In my point of view it is a perfect place to have great fun in this fabulous city. I hope you will have a joyful time there.