As France’s leading cruise port, Marseille boasts many seaside, cultural and historical attractions. The modern infrastructure of its cruise terminal means that several ships can dock simultaneously. It is ideally linked to major European cities via the Saint-Charles TGV station and Marseille Provence international airport, as well as a major road network. Best known for its calanques (rocky inlets), Provencal gastronomy and its velodrome stadium, the city of Marseille also has a wealth of cultural attractions, with around twenty museums to visit before setting off on your Mediterranean voyage.
Every day at the Mucem
A visit to the Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée is a must when visiting Marseille. The futuristic 45,000 m² concrete cube designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti is built on the former site of Fort Saint-Jean, which dominates the entrance to the port. This bridge between architecture and heritage houses imposing collections and exhibitions devoted to Mediterranean civilisations, from prehistory to the present day.
Le Panier, a taste of Provence
For all the information you need to book a cruise departing from Marseille, visit the website https://www.croisierenet.com/ports/17/france/croisiere-marseille.html.
Located close to the Old Port, Le Panier is the oldest district in the city of Marseille. This historic centre, which starts behind the Town Hall, is built on a hillock where you can stop for a drink on a terrace in the sunshine, or to wander through the narrow streets to discover designers and craftspeople. Le Panier has the feel of a Provencal village, with its flower-decked streets, colourful facades and cosmopolitan inhabitants. A stroll through the old quarter starts at the entrance to the Passage Lorette, passing by the Vieille Charité Museum of Archaeology and Contemporary Art, the old Place des Moulins, the large Place du Refuge and the Place de Lenche, with its breathtaking view of Notre Dame de la Garde.
Wandering around the Old Port
Now a marina, the Vieux-Port is located below the Canebière. This symbol of Marseille, made famous by the writings of Marcel Pagnol, is a popular meeting place par excellence, where all the major events take place. Marseillais go there to celebrate an OM victory, to watch the fireworks on 14 July or to enjoy a bouillabaisse, the local speciality, in one of the many restaurants lining the quays.
The calanques, a permanent spectacle
The calanques can be reached by hiking along a coastline of rugged stone paths such as the GR 98. They can also be discovered by hiring kayaks or taking a boat trip. Access by sea allows you to discover secret coves and caves, with fine sandy beaches backed by steep cliffs and crystal-clear waters revealing exceptional seabeds ideal for diving. The 20-kilometre stretch of coastline between La Ciotat, Marseille and Cassis is home to a number of magnificent and breathtaking sites, including the Morgiou, Cellelongue, Port Piou, En Vau and Port Pin creeks. The Calanque de Sormiou in Marseille’s 9th arrondissement is renowned for its clear waters and small harbour.
Heading for the Frioul islands
The islands of Pomègues, Ratonneau, Toboulen and If make up the Frioul archipelago, once used as a bridgehead in the defence of Marseille. The Château d’If, built on the initiative of François 1st in the 16th century, is half an hour’s boat ride away. Now a prison, the building is famous for having housed a notorious prisoner, José Custodio Faria, whose spectacular escape is recounted by Alexandre Dumas in the novel ‘The Count of Montecristo’. Built in the 19th century, the Caroline Hospital on Ratonneau Island was used to treat patients suffering from yellow fever. In the early 1970s, Gaston Deferre, then Mayor of Marseille, created the charming village of Frioul and its 700-ring marina. It is located near the Berry dike, which links the islands of Pomègues and Ratonneau. The Frioul islands are an ornithological sanctuary for seabirds, particularly seagulls. Swept by the Mistral wind, the archipelago enjoys a microclimate that is conducive to the growth of more than 200 species of flowers.
From the top of Notre Dame
The Bonne Mère is the guardian of the sailors and fishermen of the city of Marseille. The cathedral of Notre Dame de la Garde, with its remarkable Romanesque-Byzantine architecture, offers a 360° panoramic view of the city of Marseille. There’s nothing like the view from Fort Saint-Jean to catch the last rays of sunshine and immortalise the sea in front, the MuCEM draped in blue and the Old Port on the left.
