Marseille

Marseille is a beautiful city in southern France, right by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second-largest city in France.

The city is very old, founded around 600 BC by ancient Greeks. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe where people still live today.

Marseille is famous for its busy port. The Old Port area is important for trade. People have made soap there for over 600 years. A special church called Notre-Dame de la Garde watches over the port. It is a symbol of Marseille.

In recent years, Marseille has grown with new projects. It now has many museums, more than any other city in France except Paris. Marseille is also known for its football team, Olympique de Marseille. The city is a place where many different cultures meet, thanks to its location near the Mediterranean Sea.

Name

The name Marseille probably started from Massalia, an ancient name given by Greeks who founded the city. Marseille has different names in different languages:

• In English, it is called Marseille, or formerly Marseilles.
• In French, it is Marseille.
• In Occitan (a local language), it is Marselha.
• In Latin, it was known as Massilia.

Geography

Marseille is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris. To the east of Marseille are the Calanques. These are rugged coastal areas with small fjord-like inlets. Further east are the Sainte-Baume mountains, the city of Toulon, and the French Riviera. North of Marseille are the Garlaban and Etoile mountain ranges, and the famous Mont Sainte Victoire. To the west are the artist area of l'Estaque, the Côte Bleue, the Gulf of Lion, and the Camargue region.

The city's main street, called the Canebière, runs from the Old Port eastward. Two big forts guard the entrance to the Old Port. Far out in the Bay of Marseille lies the Frioul archipelago, home to Château d'If, a famous spot from the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas.

Climate

Marseille has a warm mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. The coldest months are December, January, and February. July and August are the warmest months. Marseille gets lots of sunshine, about 2,897.6 hours a year, making it the sunniest city in France. The city also gets less rain than most, thanks to the mistral wind. Snow is rare, and the city rarely sees temperatures below freezing.

History

Main article: History of Marseille

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Marseille.

Marseille started as a Greek settlement around 600 BC, founded by people from Phocaea, now Foça in Turkey. It grew into an important Greek city and later helped Rome in its wars. Rome eventually took control.

After Rome, Marseille stayed a busy trading place. It faced hard times over the years, including attacks and diseases, but always came back. In the 1700s, a big plague affected the city, but people returned. During the French Revolution, soldiers from Marseille helped sing a song that became France’s national anthem. Later, the city grew with new industries and became home to many people from Africa who moved to France.

Economy

Marseille is an important city for trade and industry in France. It has good roads, a big port, and an airport. The area around Marseille has a large economy, creating many jobs and wealth.

The city’s port has been important for a long time. It connects France with places in North Africa. Today, the port helps many jobs and brings in goods, especially oil.

Marseille has many companies, especially smaller ones. The city is growing in technology and services. It is also a popular place for tourists to visit because of its beaches, history, and many museums and theatres.

Administration

Main articles: Arrondissements of Marseille and Cantons of Marseille

The city of Marseille is divided into 16 areas called municipal arrondissements. These areas are split into 111 neighborhoods. The arrondissements are paired into 8 sectors. Each sector has its own mayor and council, like Paris and Lyon. Elections for these councils happen every six years.

The 9th arrondissement of Marseille is the largest area, including parts of the Calanques National Park. The 13th arrondissement of Marseille has the most people living in it.

Demographics

Marseille is a city in southern France. It is an important port on the Mediterranean Sea. Many people from different countries live there, so it is a mix of many cultures.

In the past, people from Italy, Greece, and Armenia moved to Marseille. More recently, people have come from Africa, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. Today, many people in Marseille have roots in many different countries.

Immigration

Marseille is a big port city. This has attracted people from many places. In the past, many people from other parts of France and southern Europe moved there. In the 20th century, people came from countries like Italy, Greece, Russia, Armenia, Vietnam, and Spain.

In more recent years, people from Africa and the Middle East have also moved to Marseille. Today, many people in Marseille have family origins in Italy, the Maghreb (a region in North Africa), and other places.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Marseille

Culture

Marseille has its own special culture that is very different from the rest of France. Today, it is a fun place with an important opera house, museums, art galleries, cinemas, clubs, bars, and restaurants.

The city has many theatres, including La Criée, Le Gymnase, and Théâtre Toursky. There is also a big arts centre in La Friche, an old factory behind the Saint-Charles station. The Alcazar, once a famous music hall and variety theatre, now houses the main city library. Other music places include Le Silo and GRIM.

Marseille has been important for artists and writers. It was the home of many French writers and poets, including Edmond Rostand and André Roussin. The small port of l'Estaque became a favorite spot for artists like Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne.

Marseille is a mix of many cultures. People from all over the world live together, bringing their foods, languages, and traditions. You can see this mix in the markets and streets.

The city is famous for its special kinds of tarot cards called the Tarot de Marseille. There are also special Christmas decorations called santons made in the city.

Marseille's main cultural place was the Opéra, but it was damaged by a fire. It was rebuilt and still has shows today.

The city has many fun festivals and events, like the Fête du Panier in June and the Fête de la Musique in June with free concerts. There are also music festivals for different kinds of music.

Marseille is well known for its hip hop music with groups like IAM.

The city has special foods, like bouillabaisse, a famous fish soup, and aïoli, a garlic sauce. There are also special local cookies called Navette de Marseille and a drink called pastis.

Marseille has its own special way of speaking French, with colorful expressions and words that are unique to the city.

Main sights

Marseille is a city full of art, history, and interesting buildings. You can find many museums, old churches, and beautiful places to explore.

Central Marseille

Most of the city’s famous spots are in the first few areas of Marseille. These include:

• The Old Port, the main harbour with two big forts nearby. It’s a great place to enjoy food and cafés by the water.
• The City Hall, a beautiful old building from the 1600s.
• The main shopping areas, like Rue St Ferreol.
• A big arch called the Porte d'Aix, remembering old French victories.
• An old hospital turned into a hotel.
• La Vieille Charité, an important old building that now holds a museum and art gallery.
• The Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure, a huge church with parts from many different times.
• The Abbey of Saint-Victor, one of Europe’s oldest places of worship, with old underground rooms.

Museums

Marseille has many museums, including:

• A museum about European and Mediterranean cultures, opened in 2013.
• A museum in an old port building, showing art from Provence.
• A museum with ancient Roman warehouses and other old objects.
• The city’s history museum, with old boats and ancient remains.
• Museums for modern art, European art objects, and musical instruments.
• A grand building with fountains that holds art and natural history museums.
• A castle turned museum for decorative arts, fashion, and ceramics.
• A museum for contemporary art.
• A museum showing Provençal crafts and traditions.

Outside central Marseille

Beyond the city centre, you can visit:

• A big modern church with great views.
• The home stadium of the city’s football team.
• A famous modern building designed by an architect.
• Old warehouses turned into offices.
• Gardens with views of the sea.
• A scenic waterfront road.
• Beautiful beaches.
• A national park in a mountainous coastal area.
• Islands in the bay.

Education

Marseille has many schools and universities. Parts of Aix-Marseille University are there, like the University of Provence, Université de la Méditerranée Aix-Marseille II, and Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III. The city also has special schools called grandes écoles, such as Ecole Centrale de Marseille and Institut polytechnique des sciences avancées, and KEDGE Business School.

Important research groups work in Marseille, including the CNRS, INSERM, and INRA. Scientists study topics like biology and marine sciences. Marseille is also where the IRD has its main office, helping countries that are growing.

Transport

See also: Transport in Marseille

International and regional transport

Marseille has an international airport called Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane. It is very busy. The city has many roads to places like Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, and the French Riviera.

Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles is the main train station in Marseille. Trains go to many cities in France and Europe, including Paris, Lyon, and London. There are buses to nearby towns. Marseille has a big ferry terminal with trips to Corsica, Sardinia, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Public transport

Marseille has a train system called the Marseille Métro with two lines. These trains help people move around the city. There are many bus lines, a tramway, and a bike-sharing service.

A free ferry service runs between the two sides of the Old Port. There are also ferry trips to nearby islands and places like Frioul and the Calanques.

Sport

Marseille has many sports facilities and teams. The most famous team is the city's football club, Olympique de Marseille. They reached the final of a big European tournament in 1991 and won it in 1993. Their home stadium, the Stade Vélodrome, can hold about 67,000 people and has hosted important games like the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

The city is well-known for a game called pétanque and hosted the Pétanque World Championship in 2012. Sailing is also popular in Marseille because of the windy conditions and warm waters. The city has hosted many sailing events and is a great place to watch matches close to the shore.

Marseille has strong teams in water sports like water polo and also offers windsurfing, powerboating, and golf. The city has many gyms and public swimming pools, and running is enjoyed in parks like Le Pharo. An annual footrace takes place between Marseille and the nearby town of Cassis.

Notable people

See also: List of people from Marseille

Marseille is where many famous people were born. Some of them are:

• Pytheas, a Greek explorer from long ago
• Désirée Clary, who became Queen of Sweden
• Honoré Daumier, a well-known artist
• Joseph Pujol, an entertainer known for unusual tricks
• Henri Fabre, who built the first airplane that could land on water
• Fernandel, a popular actor
• Louis Jourdan, an actor known for movies
• Zinedine Zidane, a famous football player
• Eric Cantona, another famous football player
• Jessica Fox, a top athlete in canoe racing

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Twin towns – sister cities

Marseille works with 12 cities around the world. Most of these cities are ports, except for Marrakesh. These partnerships started in different years, beginning in 1958.

The partnered cities include:

• Abidjan, Ivory Coast (1958)
• Antwerp, Belgium (1958)
• Copenhagen, Denmark (1958)
• Dakar, Senegal (1968)
• Genoa, Italy (1958)
• Glasgow, United Kingdom (2006)
• Hamburg, Germany (1958)
• Kobe, Japan (1961)
• Marrakesh, Morocco (2004)
• Naples, Italy (2024)
• Odesa, Ukraine (1972)
• Piraeus, Greece (1984)
• San Diego, United States (2025)
• Shanghai, China (1987)
• Tunis, Tunisia (1989)

Partner cities

Marseille also has agreements with 24 other cities around the world. These partnerships started between 1980 and 2007 and include cities such as:

• Agadir, Morocco (2003)
• Alexandria, Egypt (1991)
• Algiers, Algeria (1980)
• Bamako, Mali (1991)
• Barcelona, Spain (1998)
• Beirut, Lebanon (2003)
• Casablanca, Morocco (1998)
• Istanbul, Turkey (2003)
• Lomé, Togo (1995)
• Lyon, France
• Montevideo, Uruguay (1999)
• Thessaloniki, Greece
• Saint Petersburg, Russia (2013)
• Meknes, Morocco (1998)
• Rabat, Morocco (1989)
• Tirana, Albania (1991)
• Tripoli, Libya (1991)
• Tunis, Tunisia (1998)
• Varna, Bulgaria (2007)
• West Jerusalem, Israel (2006)
• Yerevan, Armenia (1992)