Marseille

Marseille is a beautiful city in southern France, right by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second-largest city in France, with almost 900,000 people living there. The city is very old, founded around 600 BC by ancient Greeks, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe that people still live in today.

Marseille is famous for its busy port, which has been important for trade for many centuries. The Old Port area is the heart of the city, where people have made soap for over 600 years. A special church called Notre-Dame de la Garde watches over the port and is a symbol of Marseille.

In recent years, Marseille has grown and changed with new projects to improve the city. 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, and has hosted big international sports events. The city is a place where many different cultures meet, thanks to its location near the Mediterranean Sea.

Name

The name Marseille likely comes from the ancient name Massalia, which was given to the city by Greeks who founded it. The city has different names in various 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, reflecting its origins as a Greek settlement founded around 600 BC.

Geography

Marseille is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris. To the east of Marseille, starting from the small fishing village of Callelongue, you can find 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, Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean, 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, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The coldest months are December, January, and February, with daytime temperatures around 12 °C (54 °F). July and August are the warmest, with temperatures around 28–30 °C (82–86 °F). 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, about 532.3 mm (21 in) a year, thanks to the mistral wind that brings clear skies. Snow is rare, and the city rarely sees temperatures below freezing. The hottest day ever was 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) on July 26, 1983, and the coldest was −16.8 °C (1.8 °F) on February 13, 1929.

History

Main article: History of Marseille

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Marseille.

Marseille began as a Greek settlement around 600 BC, founded by people from a place called Phocaea, now known as Foça in Turkey. It grew into an important Greek city and later supported Rome during its wars. Eventually, Rome took control of the city.

Even after Rome, Marseille stayed a busy trading place. It faced tough times over the centuries, including attacks and diseases, but always recovered. In the 1700s, a big plague hurt the city, but people came back. 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, with good roads, a big port, and an airport. In 2019, the area around Marseille had a large economy, creating lots of jobs and wealth.

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

Marseille has many companies, especially smaller ones, and it is growing in technology and services. The city 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 split into 16 areas called municipal arrondissements, which are further divided into 111 neighborhoods. These arrondissements are grouped in pairs into 8 sectors, each with its own mayor and council, similar to how Paris and Lyon are organized. Elections for these councils happen every six years, with a total of 303 council members.

The 9th arrondissement of Marseille is the largest by 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 that has always been an important port on the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this, many people from different countries have come to live there, making it a place where many cultures mix.

In the past, people from places like 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, which makes the city very diverse.

Immigration

Because Marseille is a big port city, it 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 and is very different from the rest of France. Today, it is a center for culture and fun with an important opera house, historical and sea museums, five art galleries, and many 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, has been redone and now houses the main city library. Other music places in Marseille include Le Silo and GRIM.

Marseille has been important for artists and writers. It was the home and birthplace 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 many backgrounds live together, and the city has many different foods, languages, and traditions. It became a big port where people from all over the world came, bringing their own cultures with them. Even today, you can see this mix in the markets and streets.

The city is also 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 until a fire damaged it. It was rebuilt in a different style and still puts on 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 many 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, influenced by local languages. It has 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 a 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, including one that was used as a prison in a famous story.

Education

Marseille is home to many schools and universities. Some parts of Aix-Marseille University are located there, including the University of Provence, Université de la Méditerranée Aix-Marseille II, and Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III. The city also has four special schools called grandes écoles, such as Ecole Centrale de Marseille, École pour l'informatique et les nouvelles technologies, Institut polytechnique des sciences avancées, and KEDGE Business School.

Many important research groups work in Marseille, including the CNRS, INSERM, and INRA. Scientists study many topics at different places in the city, such as biology, immunology, and marine sciences. Marseille is also where the IRD has its main office, supporting research that helps countries that are still growing.

Transport

See also: Transport in Marseille

International and regional transport

Marseille has an international airport called Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane. It is one of France's busiest airports. The city has many roads connecting it to places like Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, and the French Riviera.

Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles is the main train station in Marseille. It has trains going to many cities in France and Europe, including Paris, Lyon, and London. There are also buses from this station to nearby towns. Marseille also 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 travel around the city. There are also 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 was the birthplace of many famous people. Some of them are:

• Pytheas, a Greek explorer from ancient times
• 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 has partnerships with 12 cities around the world. Most of these are ports, except for Marrakesh. The partnerships began in different years, starting from 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 worldwide. These partnerships started from 1980 to 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)