Colors of Marseille - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Many tourists identify Marseille with the novel by Alexandre Dumas as the city stands for the birth place of the world famous literature character Count of Monte-Cristo and the place of location of the legendary Chateau d’If. The ancient city with its rich history features plenty of original peculiarities. The destination hosts many bright festivals and attracts foreign tourists with its rich and impressive national fests.

Music fans will love Marseille in April and August being the time of holding of the brightest music festivals which are the “Holy Music” and the “Diaspora Music and Culture”. The first festival offers the performances of city music bands meanwhile the second one has turned into international event. October offers an exciting event for tourists and city residents. The Fiesta des Suds is the longest and the most tourist attracting event of Marseille.

During the festival the city witnesses various entertaining performances: exciting music shows and grand festive parades, amazing street artists’ performances and the brightest fairs, fantastic theatrical performances and interesting culinary battles. A major part of the folk festival is open air. Almost every street in the city offers concession stands and small open air cafes which are operating all through the festival. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Contemporary art connoisseurs will love the Bazar Festival which is held in November. Amateur artists and sculptors, talented photographers and writers take part in the festival. The guests of the event get a chance to learn the art of the modern artists closer. One of the most waited and exciting parts of this festival is the selling exhibition of the best art works. The exhibition lets the visitors to buy desired sculptures or paintings.

In summer Marseille hosts various water sports competitions. Traditionally the competitions start in the middle of July and last till the second part of August. Eager tourists will love the exciting action of the competitions as the performances of well known sportsmen will stun every sport fan. Rich ethnic culture of the city along with unique ethnic identity turns a visit to Marseille into an unforgettable experience for every traveler. The time of the Marseille visit does not matter as tourists will be greeted with numerous original ethnic fests and holidays.

Marseille is especially interesting for fans of colorful sights in the spring. The international boat and yacht exhibition Les Nauticales takes place at the end of March. It opens the season in the Mediterranean region. The large-scale event attracts hundreds of tourists and yacht owners. You can see the magnificent regatta and rowing competitions in the picturesque Vieux-Port de Marseille harbor. You should definitely visit the opening of the fair. You can buy not only a luxury boat but also other items at attractive prices at this fair. These are water sports equipment, specialized uniforms and shoes, tourist equipment, and fishing gear.

The music season opens with Festival de Marseille Danse et Arts Multiples in early June. The main events of the fest take place in the central streets of the city, Rue de la République. Flamenco is mixed with breakdancing, and rock is mixed with French chanson here. Theatrical performances include both art performances and dramatic performances. Artists from all over the world attend the fest. Fiesta des Suds is another versatile event. It takes place in mid-October. All fans of folk and ethnic music try not to miss the event. Musicians from all over the world come to Marseille at this time. The city is becoming the world's capital, uniting all peoples who seek to showcase their culture through their music and dance.

Festival de la Ville-Monza is another interesting event in Marseille. It takes place within three weeks. The festival starts in mid-June and ends at the end of the next month. The festival implies art in all its diversity. This includes theater, cinema, music, dance, and visual arts. However, special attention is paid to the choreographic component of the event. Seventeen cultural institutions take part in the event. These are art cafes, cultural centers, museums, theaters, and concert halls. Visitors will be able to see great theatrical, dance, and music shows here at this time. Presentations, conferences, meet-and-greets, seminars, and film screenings are also held as part of the event.

A beautiful event called Festival Jazz des Cinq Continents is dedicated to jazz, which has already become a classic. It is held in the middle of the second summer month in one of the most picturesque places in Marseille — Parc Longchamp. This combination makes the festival one of the most desirable not only for music fans but also for connoisseurs of beauty. Famous headliners are always invited to a music event. However, you can also meet new names in the music world here. Fête du Panier is also an interesting event. It is held at the end of June at Friche du Panier Theater. This is another festival that introduces visitors to the culture of other nationalities but not only through art (music, dance, and theater) but also through cooking. The gastronomic program is an important part of the fest, as well as master classes, contests, and animation shows.