City Guide to Marseilles

- Country: France

- Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

- Department: Bouches-du-Rhône

- Location: on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea

- Why visit Marseilles?

1. Museums
   
   Marseilles boasts 20 museums that cover all periods of history from Antiquity to modern times, ranging from archaeology to motorcycles and santons, not to mention the fine arts and contemporary art.
   
   
2. The sea
   
   Marseilles aims to become an international nautical and sports capital. This goal is made possible thanks to the city's exceptionally rich natural heritage including the sea, seaboard and the islands.
   
   
3. Cruises
   
   Marseilles, a key Mediterranean cruise ship destination, is also the gateway to Provence and the leading French port of call.
   Numerous destinations are just a few kilometres away from the city: Aix-en Provence, Cassis, Bandol, the Aubagne region, as well as the Alpilles, Saint Rémy de Provence, les Baux de Provence, Arles and the Camargue, the Lubéron, Avignon …
   So many sights to choose from for a tourism day trip or an extended stay before or after the cruise.
   
   
4. Football country
   
   Marseilles, a genuine paradise for sports enthusiasts! Whether you enjoy fishing, football, golf, hiking and climbing, or sailing, ocean kayaking and diving, everything is possible thanks to Marseille's exceptional natural surroundings and the presence of appropriate infrastructures.
   But the true attraction that really gets the city into high gear is the Olympique de Marseille team and stadium with its major football matches. After the European Cup and the 1998 World Cup, the Stade Vélodrome hosted rugby fans for the 2007 World Cup. It is the preferred stadium of the French rugby team as well as the mythical All Blacks.
   
   
5. Fashionable Marseilles
   
   Marseilles has become a fashionable city, in addition to the quality of life, the exceptional natural surroundings and cultural heritage, it is also a Fashion city with many budding designers.
   Any attempt to provide an overview of fashion in Marseilles would be pretentious and inevitably incomplete. The below list is just an appetizer with a few names for the connoisseurs and for those who wish to learn more:
   A few famous Marseilles brands:
   • Sessun, Kulte, Pain de Sucre, Fuego, Didier Parakian, Le Temps des Cerises, Sugar, Héléna Sorel, American vintage, Gas, les petites bombes, Frojo, Pellegrin...
   And a few big names who have chosen Marseille:
   • Sonia Rykiel, Hermes, Kenzo, Vuitton, Ventilo, Hugo Boss, Paul Ka...
   
   
6. Design
   
   Marseilles, a rising star! Over the past few years, France's oldest city has become trendy, with a boost from the many cultural projects stemming from the city's nomination to the 2013 European Capital title and the fabulous Euromediterranee achievements. The face of Marseille will be shaped by the architectural genius of the most prominent architects including Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel, Fuksas, Rudy Ricciotti and Kengo Kuma.
   Multifaceted, colourful design is the norm here in a city where the sun shines more than 300 days a year, with a culture based on traditions from all corners of the Mediterranean.
   
   
7. Marseilles and the Silver Screen
   
   Prior to the advent of the seventh art, many artists set their easels up in Marseilles to capture the landscapes, but it was the 1896 Lumière brothers innovation that paved the way for cinema.
   Since then, over 300 scenarios, some of which became cult classics, have put Marseilles on the silver screen. After the film period that left lasting impressions on an entire generation (the Pagnol triology: Marius, Cesar, Fanny and even Borsalino), Marseilles was once again a top choice filming location with works such as Taxi, Fabio Montale, MR73, Mayrig, Marius and Jeannette...

USEFUL RESOURCES

Further information: http://www.marseille-tourisme.com/

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16 July 2010