Culture of Marseille. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

» Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure is located at the site of the wooden church built in the 5th century, which is proved by excavations. In the late 19th century, it was decided to demolish the old building upon the order of Napoleon III. The citizens were not satisfied with this decision and held a protest demonstration.
»  The old building was not dismantled completely. The new cathedral was built near it. The locals call it “strips on the pajamas” for its colorful exterior.
»  The main construction materials are white marble granite, laminate onyx, limestone, and green Florentine stone. Pink stone adds certain flavor to the exterior.
»  The inner walls are faced with marble and mosaics. As for the color palette, red gradually changes to golden.
»  High stained glass windows transmit much daylight. There are a lot of sculptures and bas-reliefs.
»  There is an altar in the center of the hall. It is supported by columns and a dome.
»  The room can accommodate 3 thousand people. The building is 142 m long and 70 m high.
»  Its impressive size symbolizes the significance of the city as one of the largest ports in France.

Location on the map:   Facts: » According to the chronicles, the building was constructed in the 5th century. Later, militant nomads destroyed it. The Catholic monastery was rebuilt in the 11th century.
»  The dwelling is named after the warrior and martyr St. Victor who lived in the 3rd century. It was executed upon the order of the nobles for his refusal to participate in the rite of sacrificing to gods.
»  In the abbey, there is a preserved crypt with bishops’ relics dating back approximately to the 4th century.
»  There is the Black Madonna in the form of the ebony statuette. It is displayed to celebrate the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Parishioners light green candles symbolizing hope.
»  Today, the monastery is not working. However, its church still welcomes visitors.
»  The building is fenced with the notched protective wall. The Abbey of Saint Victor resembles a fortification with its exterior: it has thick walls with loopholes and rectangular towers. There is a bell on one of it. The exterior is plain.
»  During the French Revolution, the halls of the abbey were turned into a barn where prisoners were detained. There were also barracks for soldiers.
»  There is the altar of white marble (the 5th century), the sculpture of the Great Martyr, and the organ.
»  You need to go through the arched stone doorway to get inside.

» The New Government decided to build the museum after the change of political power in 1801. It presents exhibits that have a cultural value. They were seized from the people in power and the church.
»  The art gallery specializes in art and sculpture of the 16th-19th century. Here, you can see canvasses not only of domestic, but also of foreign masters. There are paintings of artists of the Art School of Provence.
»  The smaller second sector presents canvasses of Italian artists living in the 16th-18th centuries. Here, you can see a lot of rare paintings.
»  Auguste Rodin presented one of his sculptures to the museum. The collection of the belongings of Pierre Puget, a sculptor, an architect, and a woodcarver, is one of the biggest in the country.
»  Besides permanent exhibitions, private ones are also organized here. Items are transferred from other cultural institutions.
»  Old Palais Longchamp built in the middle of the 19th century became a place where art exhibitions are held.
»  The parking area around the building is also impressive. It is divided into two parts, French and English. There are a cascade fountain and an observatory. The second part of the palace is occupied with the Natural History Museum.

» 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.