Why is marseille france famous

Marseille, also known in English as Marseilles, is the second-largest city in France. Known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as Massalia, Marseille was the most important trading centre in the region and the main commercial port of the French Republic. Marseille is now France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. It contributes to the renown of Marseille. It is, surprisingly, perfectly acceptable to add an ice cube or two to cool or dilute a bottle of wine.

The aperitif is not only for the summer: The terraces of the cafes of Marseille are also full to crack in winter.

A good point for the local Football team. In Marseille, « OM » is not a meditative buzz but a furious scream, shouted during games and tagged on the walls of the city. Marseille is also known for its football club. OM is Olympique de Marseille, the football club we worship here. Even President Emmanuel Macron is a fan. Try to find a place behind the goals and in addition to ultras, fanatical fan clubs, which do not jump is not not Marseille and against the players wets the shirt or break , who spend all the match standing on their seat to sing.

You can not go to a match? Score extra points with the locals for wearing blue sky. Head to the roofs. Rooftop parties are important here. This former tobacco factory features an open-air cinema and DJ dance nights. If you are in a more discreet mood, the Hermes Hotel bar offers a view of the Old Port in a more intimate setting. Thursday is the most popular party night, but late summer sunsets 10pm make every summer night a good time to party. Explore the North Quarters. The North Quarters is where most people will tell you not to go because of its reputation as a crime, but do not let that deter you from venturing into the northern neighborhoods of Marseille.

Be aware of your surroundings as you would in any other city. Navigating the Northern Neighborhoods can be difficult because they are so vast and poorly served by public transportation. Your best option is to contact the Hotel du Nord or Marseille Provence Greeters , cooperatives of local guides eager to share their knowledge. Or, visit the soap maker, Serail , during one of their factory tours on Friday afternoon.

Visit or climb the Calanques. Southern version of the Norwegian fjords, the Calanques are vertiginous limestone cliffs that flow into the sea. Most of this newly created national park is accessible only by boat or on foot, and many hikes are closed in July-September during the forest fire season. Marseille soap is known around the world. Marseille Soap or Marseille soap is a traditional hard soap based on vegetable oils, produced around Marseille, France, for about years.

Traditionally, soap is made by mixing seawater from the Mediterranean Sea, olive oil and alkaline ash from marine plants in a large cauldron. It is a natural and ecological product. Take your time. In Marseilles, the fifteen minutes Marseilles made the fame of Marseilles.

It means that « being on time » is 15 to 30 minutes late. Strikes and delays in public transport may occur. Many of its inmates were political or religious prisoners. Like the rest of France, Marseille is known for its food. Its most traditional and popular dish is Bouillabaisse, coming from the Occitan words bolhir to boil and abaissar to simmer. It is a fish stew, traditionally made by Marseille fishermen, using the rockfish that they were unable to sell at public markets.

Vegetables such as leeks, onions and potatoes are simmered together in a broth, and then served with the fish. The bouillabaisse is served with bread and a rouille , a sort of mayonnaise made with olive oil, garlic, and saffron.

As a city located on the sea, many other dishes comprise of fish, from sea bass to swordfish and lobster. Pastis is made from aniseed and flavored with licorice root, giving it a very particular taste.

It is commonly diluted with water, five parts to one. Standing on an esplanade that overlooks the waterfront and the Vieux-Port, it is a beautiful sightseeing monument. It is particularly distinctive for its Neo-Byzantine meter-high dome. The cathedral dates back to the 12th century, and the structure of a smaller cathedral can be found alongside the new bigger one. The new cathedral started construction began in , when Napoleon III laid the first stone.

The MuCEM is devoted to the history and culture of European and Mediterranean civilizations, exploring the Mediterranean and its common society from ancient times up until the present. Perfectly reflecting its open relation to the rest of the world, the museum overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is connected by a bridge to Fort Saint-Jean.

The terrace restaurant on the top of the building gives some great panoramic views of the city and the sea. You will notice that southern France is very different to the north and other famous areas such as Paris!

Commonly, the south is considered to be more relaxed and friendly, and people from Marseille and Provence will proudly contrast their friendliness to the stereotypically rude nature of Parisians and Northerners. In a breathtaking hilltop location, this spectacular church is the most important landmark in Marseilles. The site was used in ancient times as an observation point, and during the Middle Ages, was the location of a pilgrimage chapel.

Today, the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde is a beacon for the faithful, with an enormous gilded Madonna crowning the belfry. Built in , the church features an opulent Neo-Byzantine-style interior of light and dark marble arches supporting gilded mosaic cupolas.

The lavish design has a mesmerizing effect. After seeing the interior, visitors can spend time on the splendid terrace. Offering a marvelous view, the panorama extends from the red roof tops of Marseilles' buildings and the old harbor, all the way to the Frioul Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Abbaye Saint-Victor. This house of worship once belonged to an abbey founded in the 5th century.

The abbey's basilica is one of the oldest buildings in Marseilles that is still intact, with foundations dating back to Early Christian and Carolingian times. With its crenellated walls and towers, the foreboding exterior has the feel of a medieval fortress. Inside, the basilica reveals a simple and somber design, which gives it a special aura. The crypt houses sarcophagi of the 4th and 5th centuries, as well as the 11th-century tombstone of Abbot Isarnus. The Abbaye Saint-Victor is open for visits on Tuesday afternoons and on additional days during the late summer.

Vieux Port Old Harbor. The Vieux Port represents the birthplace of Marseilles. This is where the city began as a Greek port around BC. A stroll around this bustling harbor immerses visitors in the sights and sounds of a thriving Mediterranean port. The waterfront is a focal point for tourists, and many say it's one of the best places to visit in Marseilles for authentic local cuisine.

Seafood restaurants specialize in bouillabaisse, the flavorful seafood stew that is the city's signature dish. On the east side of the harbor, the Quai des Belges hosts a fish market every morning. Once an important commercial port, the Vieux Port is now used primarily by fishing boats and sports craft.

Le Panier Old Town. Splendidly situated on a hillside above the Vieux Port, this colorful neighborhood is the historic center and cultural heart of Marseilles.

Le Panier is Marseilles' oldest quarter, inhabited since antiquity when the ancient Greeks settled here in BC. With its steep, narrow winding streets and quaint pastel buildings, this quarter offers a glimpse into the charming personality of Marseilles.