Car Hire Marseille

Mini guide to Marseille

France’s chief Mediterranean port is somewhat partisan city, with a large ethnic population from North Africa and a touch of seediness to it. However, it’s down-to-earth, cosmopolitan, and boasts a trading history going back 2500 years.

Notre Dame de la Garde, dominating the city from a 154m-high hill, overlooks the Vieux Port (Old Port). This Roman Byzantine-styled basilica dates from 1853 and cuts a striking image with its multicoloured dome and bell tower (capped by a beautiful golden statue of the Virgin Mary.)

The historical Vieux Port now only accommodates pleasure cruise boats and the odd fishing vessel. The entrance is guarded by the 13th century Bas Fort St.Nicholas, built by the Knights Templer. From the port you can wander into La Canabiere, with its endless restaurants, seedy bars, cheap hotels and tacky tourist shops. The area where La Canabiere crosses Cours Belsunce is by far the liveliest part of this town. The closer you get to the port the seedier, sexy and ‘clubby’ the atmosphere becomes.

The city does, however, have a strong cultural element and its broad collection of museums include; Musee Cantini (entirely devoted to modern art). Musee Grobet Labadie (Royal furniture and objects d’art), Musee De Beaux Arts (housed in the incredible Palais Lonchamps), Musee de la Faience (porcelain) and Musee d’Histoire de Marseille.

Marseille’s reputation as a notoriously rough place stems largely from its liberal attitude and nightlife, but it’s non-the-less a fascinating and lively place,the locals are frienly (by French standards!) and reasonably safe in tourist areas.