Top architectural sightseeing and landmarks of Marseille - ideas on city exploration routes

» Pilgrims have been visiting the Catholic basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde for several centuries. It is annually visited by half a million people.
»  The cathedral was built in the middle of the 18th century. It was completed in 1897.
»  The construction is seen from afar, as it is located on the hilltop. The staircase divided by a bridge leads to the building.
»  The 41-meter basilica looks like a square tower. It was built of white limestone and green sandstone. The House of God ends with a rectangular terrace.
»  It also has a round bell tower. On its top, there is an 11-meter statue of the Virgin Mary with a baby in her hands. The statue is copper and gilded. 500 g of gold was used for gilt. It was necessary to dismantle the statue to lift it.
»  The church is not so big. It is 32 m long and 14 m wide. There are bell towers on the sides of the main building.
»  As for the interior, the mosaics decorate the space with a total area of 1.2 m2. Some colorful elements were delivered from Venice. The floor is decorated with patterns.
»  Marseillais call this symbol of the city the Good Mother. Since the Middle Ages, big religious ceremonies have been held here.

» The defensive rectangular fort with loopholes was constructed to protect the north side of the harbor.
»  In 1660, the second fortress was built upon the order of the Emperor. Citadels defense against the rebellious locals. The guns of towers are pointed in the direction of city districts.
»  The round tower with a lighthouse was built in a few years. Fort Saint-Jean is separated from the city by a moat with water.
»  The fortress had seen a lot of historical events. It served as a military garrison, a prison for Jacobins, the storage for military weapons in the period of the Second World War, and a transshipment base for legionaries traveling to Algeria.
»  The King Rene Tower (1452) that is 30 m high is also interesting here. Its four rooms are linked by a round staircase that leads to the open platform.
»  In one of the parts of the complex, there is the monument to the victims of fascism and to those who died in concentration camps. In the other part, there is the Civilization Museum.
»  The modern building was built at one of the quays. Its lower part is hidden underwater. The museum is linked with the fort by a suspension bridge.
»  The excavations have started near St. John’s Chapel. There are preserved ruins of barracks.
»  The fort is named after the monk, martyr, and follower of Christ’s teachings.

» You can trace 2000 years of city history in the Marseille History Museum. The cultural institution consists of the building where exhibits are displayed and the place where artifacts have been found.
»  Exhibitions are divided into 13 categories. Each sector is dedicated to a particular period, from the 6th century when the settlement was established, to the present day. The theme of the sector depends on the historical stage: the Greeks’ occupation, the Romans’ attack, the adoption of Christianity, the political independence of the city, the period when the city became the part of France, regimes of different monarchs, the Revolution, and world wars.
»  Each collection is unique and includes religious artifacts, household items of the past, outfits, and statuettes. Everything depicts the first settlers’ life.
»  Here, you can also see the remains of the old ships. One of the shipwrecks is 2 600 years old.
»  There is a library where you can learn information about historical events.
»  There is the “Garden of Ruins” outside. Here, you can see the remains of the fortification wall, foundations of houses and ruins of old constructions. They all appeared in the 6th-2nd century BC.
»  The museum has a total area of 6.5 hectares.

» Marseille opera originated in 1685. The music theater for opera performances was opened. The professional troupe appeared in a hundred years.
»  In the late 17th century, the Opera Theater was built at the site of the tennis court.
»  In 1919, it was damaged by the fire. Only central columns of the historic facade at the entrance have been undamaged.
»  The modern exterior impresses with artistic design due to the famous architects’ efforts.
»  The Opera Municipal was officially opened in 1924.
»  The entrance is decorated with a stone colonnade. There are an audience hall, a two-level balcony, and a gallery. The audience hall and the lobby of the theater are decorated with marble, gilt and paintings.
»  There are 1 800 seats.
»  The choice of performances is predetermined by the Italian descent of most of the citizens. You can watch French premieres on stage. Nowadays, the program of the theater includes contemporary plays that may attract the young generation.
»  The Opеra Municipal is the cultural attraction of the region.

» The 33-storey skyscraper is 147 m high. It is located in the center of the business district. The tower is only 100 m from the shore of the bay.
»  There is the headquarter of the French Shipping Company. According to the decision of the management, the construction of a new building began in 2004. It was completed in 2011. The skyscraper symbolizes the Group’s increasing power in the shipping industry. CMA CGM is incorporated into the network of similar global organizations.
»  2 700 workers work in the buildings.
»  There are additional business offices, eateries, wellness centers, a gym, and a conference room. There is also an aquarium. It belongs to private individuals and is the biggest in Europe. You can visit the Maritime Museum here.
»  There is a restaurant at the top level. It can serve 800 visitors at a time. The eatery is located on the all-angle glass veranda.
»  The capacity of the parking area is 700 cars.
»  The tower is distinguished by broken lines. The total area of the multifunctional complex is 94 000 m2.
»  The CMA CGM Tower has received an award for its grace and bold architectural design.

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Facts: » It was offered to create memorials of warriors who don’t return from bloody battlefields exactly in France.
»  In Marseille, there is the magnificent arch dedicated to the soldiers of the Eastern Army and to all the people dying in battles in 1914-1918.
»  The project of the memorial had been developed for 2 years. Its implementation lasted 10 years.
»  According to the architectural and sculptural project, the monument is located on the embankment. So, it is seen from anywhere in the city.
»  The memorable stele was constructed in 1927.
»  The magnificent monument symbolizes invincibility and courage of warriors. Their statues are situated on both sides of the stone arched wall. Soldiers look forward. They keep both eyes open, so the enemy shall not pass!
»  The lengthened arch narrows to the top. On both sides of the memorial, you can see the names and dates of historical events of the First World War.
»  There is the bronze statue of Goddess Victoria in the middle of the massive arc. Victoria holds up her hands to heaven and encourages to be courageous.
»  You can come to the see if you go through the curved doorway and go down the stars.
»  The attraction is aimed at reminding people of the tragedy of the 20th century and the victims of past events.

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Facts: » There are a lot of modern special locations for public concerts. Le Dome de Marseille is distinguished by its exterior, professional acoustics, and high-quality lighting.
»  Le Dome is located in the city Saint-Just square. Its audience hall accommodates 8 500 visitors.
»  The vault of the concert hall resembles half of a sphere. The building is 27 m high. The stage for spectacular events is a round indoor theater.
»  Performances of different genres are held in the amphitheater: rock bands’ concerts, ballet shows, contemporary dance shows, theatrical benefit performances, and other events.
»  The musical platform was founded in 1994. According to sources, the construction of this modern building cost €26 million.
»  Every year, the concert hall is visited by 300 000 spectators. Over the years of its existence, it was visited by over 6 million fans of entertainments. The hall can accommodate over 1 200 people depending on the type of performance.
»  Not only domestic, but also foreign performers have a right to appear on the stage.