Le parc Chanot - Palais des Congrès & des Expositions de Marseille

Marseille, what a history!

 It all began 2600 years ago. In 600 BC, the marriage of Gyptis, daughter of a Ligurian king and Protis, a young Greek chief who had recently arrived in the Phocaean City, would seal the foundation of a new port and trading point. And so the city's commercial tradition was born.

Marseille and its economic peak

The city's economic rise caused the population of Marseille to grow fast as it constantly received new arrivals. In the 19th century, the city would see a considerable with oil mills, soap works, flour mills, sugar refineries, tobacco companies. This was also the great period of urban building with the La Corniche promenade, Rue de la République, St Charles railway station.

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Marseille, liveable city

The city's economic rise caused the population of Marseille to grow fast as it constantly received new arrivals. In the 19th century, the city would see a considerable with oil mills, soap works, flour mills, sugar refineries, tobacco companies. This was also the great period of urban building with the La Corniche promenade, Rue de la République, St Charles railway station.

The Phocaean City, the city that can't fail to charm...
• City of Art : Marseille has a rich fund of interesting sites and monuments, vestiges of all the cities that have existed on the site over its 26 centuries of history. Discover the Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica, the Cathédrale de la Major, the forts and abbeys, La Canebière, the Old Port, the Château d'If and the Frioul Islands.

• A dynamic cultural life  with a whole series of emblematic venues (Théâtre de la Criée, Théâtre Toursky, Friche de la Belle de Mai, Opéra de Marseille, Musée de la Vieille Charité, Musée d'Art Contemporain - MAC...) and in 2013, Marseille, European Capital of Culture.

• Ever more popular festivals and events: the Fête du Panier (June), the Foire aux Santons (crib fair) (November-December), the Foire à l'Ail et aux Taraïettes (garlic and earthenware fair) (July), the fish market (daily), but also the Fiesta des Suds or the Festival de Jazz des Cinq Continents (July)...

• Strolls around the little fishing harbours and the extremely picturesque "cabanons", which are delightful havens right in the city centre. Also numerous walking tours around the 111 neighbourhoods of Marseille and the city's parks and gardens.

• Marseille gastronomy: let yourself be tempted by the typical local dishes: bouillabaisse, aïoli, or a delicious lamb dish known as "pieds et paquets" (feet and parcels)!

• Choose a sport...: From fishing to golf, not to mention hiking and climbing, sailing, canoeing or diving.. you can do anything in Marseille! And finally, don't forget to come and support the OM, the local football team!

• Get out and about, discover the surrounding area: the Calanques de Cassis cliffs, which were inscribed on the UNESCO natural heritage list in January 2009, L'Estaque and its painters, the Provencal hinterlands: Aix-en-Provence, Arles and the Camargue, Saint-Rémy de Provence and Les-Baux-de-Provence...

Practical links

Marseille - Tourist Office and Convention Bureau

Bouches-du-Rhône official tourism website

Discover the PACA region

Marseille - Little Tourist Train