Marseille: The Many Faces... Addresses Galore

 

Marseille the many faces it has...

Marseille. Whoever talks about it? It has been the diamond in the rough, the city that few mention to go to. On the same blue Mediterranean as Monaco, Cannes and Nice without the fanfare or glitz. Marseille with its "bad boy" reputation and community that says, "Let everyone think we are not as good. What do we care? Let's keep Marseille to ourselves." And it has. 

Marseille the city that is talked about about in shadows. Marseille the melting pot that rarely takes credit for the melting, nor the flavor. Marseille that allows you to be who you are and accepts you without having to have, le, or la, or de or chateau in your name.

But I have to say you are missing something if you do not come and see for yourself what Marseille has to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

Marseille snakes long and narrow along the coast with the foothills a stone's throw away. It is a city with space, with green, with blue, with golden sunsets.

  

 

 

Inner courtyards that speak of movie sets, another era, and with so much flavor who needs salt or pastis?

 

 

 

Freedom to explore for hours without having to pay a dime. Beautiful vistas, and history and space... in the second largest city in France.

 

 

 

                                                  La Major Cathedral

"Of rare beauty, The Major has an attractive style of Romano-Byzantine inspiration. New Cathedral of St. Mary Major erected on the ruins of the old cathedral of La Major is one of the largest cathedrals in France, its dimensions rival the cathedrals of St. Peter's in Rome: it measures 142 feet long, the dome Central peaks at 70 meters when the nave is 20 meters. It enjoys an exceptional location. At the water's edge, the view of a deep blue stretches to the horizon.Historic monument in 1906, The Major hosts within it, Lazarus of Bethany, the first bishop of Marseille, a saint, a faithful friend of Jesus, who watches over the Cathedral, from atop his throne." text source l'Occitane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If for reason and one reason only come see the Mucem.

 

 

Architect Rudy Ricciotti

 

 

 

Mucem

 

 

 

Concrete lace structure with ever changing light, the tango between the sea and sun.

  

 

 A Sunday afternoon in Marseille spent with these two. 

  

 Mucem

 

 

 

 Along the century old wall of St Jean's Fort.

 

 

An aromatic garden, early stages, yet the perfume was as intoxicating as any Provencal countryside. I couldn't get over how fragrant it was considering we were in the city. 

Thyme, basil, lavender, sage, rosemary, oregano, olive, hazelnut, fennel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the links below (click on them) to find out more:

 

Where to go, what to do, What to buy, How to have fun, Where to stay in Marseille:

    

MUCEM

 

Marseille the once diamond in the rough....

 

St. Jean Fort.

 

Hip in the know places to stay in Marseille...

 

Food? Not only fish... Marseille where to eat?

 

Two rooms only Loft Hotel... 

 

Music... Les Docks du Sud

 

That cool place by the water... Marseille.

 

St Laurent 

 

The in the know bar for the view, where to be and jazz.

 

La Major Cathedrale

 

What's to do in Marseille?

 

One site in Marseille with all you need to know

 

Art, Circus, theatre, avant garde... the best Marseille culture Belle Mai

 

Mole Cooking Classes on the Water

 

Bird's eye view of the jewel by the sea

 

 

Fish Soup

 

Bouillabaisse Marseille is the place!

 

Why visit Churches in Marseille?

 

Bleu Evasion, private boat tours Marseille

 

La Corniche must do on an electric bike tours follow me!

 

Restaurants:

Chez Aldo

Chez  Etienne

O'Bidul

L'Epuisette

At end of the world, out by the calanques in Marseille restaurant.

 

Shopping Le Terrace du Port 

 

That is enough to keep you busy for awhile don't you think?

Comments

[Marilyn]

Yes, must come back and follow all the links.
How I want to come and visit here.

[Debra]

Oh my goodness, wow, what a post! Thank you. Marseille has never, I mean never, been on the list - now, it is. In fact, can't wait.
Corey, after a long day at work at my new job . . . I have to laugh . . . I use to read your blog with my morning coffee, now, it's with a big glass of wine. Lol
This info is great . . .xoxo

[Diogenes]

I had no idea that Marseille was the second largest city. I was there in the 1980s...we took the Train Bleu to the south from Paris, overnight. We ended up in some small town, can't remember the name, and rented a car, drove thru Marseille, then on to St. Tropez.

[dee]

Thank you for the "journey"...I hope I dream about it tonite. That MAY be the closest I come to being there ...but one never knows :)

[David]

Thank you for this post. It is timely as I have not visited Marseille yet but plan to go tomorrow while staying in Aix where my daughter has moved in for her studies. Provence was a place where I used to go as a child and had not returned for a long while, except for a one week vacation in Apt which has made me want to come back... Today, I will visit Cassis.

[Eileen]

I am disappointed that we never made it to Marseilles. I especially wanted to visit the old hardware store! One of my favorite things to do in Europe is go to hardware stores. I've found the coolest things there.

[Peggy Braswell]

omg + didn't know that about Marseilles! xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

[Franca Bollo]

I need to erase my one memory of Marseille and, sadly, your house. In time ... zou bisou, bisou.

[Monica]

A lot like Naples, Italy...everyone passes it by because of a bad reputation but it is wonderful!

On another note I thought that the Abbey of St Victor in Marseille was the traditional resting place of the relics of Lazarus? A place to visit in any event:)

We like Chez Michel for bouillabaisse too.

[Franca Bollo]

I meant "replace" not "erase". Big difference.

[Mardog]

Then we must return. xo

[tammyCA]

It looks and sounds fascinating. Marseille is one of those names that I often come across in my reading of WWII history.

[David]

Back from Marseille and not only the wind has blown my mind away but the entire city! Not at all what we hear about this city... What a day it has been....

[Franca Bollo]

oxo