Sightseeing in Marseille - what to see. Complete travel guide

Marseille is a large city in France, which occupies the second place in terms of size with Paris on the top. Marseille is the most important industrial region of France, however it also represents large cultural, architectural and historical heritage of the country.

Marseille occupies a truly advantageous location on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. An ancient port that was built over 26 centuries ago is a truly unique place that traditionally intrigues visitors of Marseille. The main street of the city named La Kanber begins right from the port. If we make a walk on the street to the south, we will get to the Cours Julien Square, which is the location of numerous cafes, restaurants and pavilions for rest.

The hill and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, which stands on this hill, are the highest point of the city and the symbol of Marseille. Marseille is truly rich in attractions and places of interest: Vieille-Charité Museum-Hospice built in the XVII century, the art museum with a large collection of paintings of XVI-XIX centuries, the Mediterranean Archaeological Museum located in the castle of Borelli, the Museum of History of Marseilles that exhibits the findings of the Middle Ages and antiquity, the Museum of Military Navy, and also the ancient abbey of St. Victor and Cité Radez ("Shining City") - a 17-storey residential building constructed in the early XX century by the famous architect Le Corbusier. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The most beautiful architectural monument is the Loshan Palace. It was built in the 19th century for the Duke of Orleans. Now the palace is an impressive sized architectural complex, surrounded by a lush garden. On the territory of the garden, you can see beautiful old fountains and sculptures. In summer, it is decorated with interesting landscape compositions. On the territory of the palace, there are two popular museums. Many come here just to take a walk in the garden.

Far beyond Marseilles is the legendary Castle of If, known all over the world thanks to the works of Alexandre Dumas. This castle was built in the 16th century and was originally used for defensive purposes. In 1580, it was converted into a prison. It retained this status for almost 300 years. Currently, many glorious legends are associated with the gloomy fortress. It is believed that within its walls there are many ghosts - the unconquered souls of former prisoners. At the end of the 19th century, the prison was closed, and only 10 years later, did the fortress become accessible to tourists.

Near the coast is the beautiful Palace of Faro. It was built in the 19th century by order of Napoleon III, who later gave it to his wife. The palace is huge and has about 500 rooms. In many rooms and premises, there is a unique interior of Empire style, which tourists can appreciate during excursions. Currently, the palace belongs to the city authorities. Its halls are used for the most significant events. Guests of Marseille can not only visit the palace as part of the excursion, but also admire its immaculate view from the water, during boat trips.

A historical monument of an earlier period is the Town Hall building, which was built in the middle of the 17th century. Presently, it is a vivid example of a rare architectural style Provencal Baroque. The facade of the building is decorated with tall narrow windows, as well as interesting sculptures. This majestic building survived several revolutions and other outstanding historical events, during which, it managed to avoid demolition only by a miracle.

Among the religious attractions of Marseille, it is worth mentioning the Abbey of Saint-Victor. It was built in the beginning of the 5th century. The founder of this abbey is the Monk Cassian. The place for the construction of the abbey was not chosen accidentally. If you believe the legend, the tomb of the Christian martyr and Saint, Victor Marcel is in these places. Over the years, the monastery has been rebuilt and its appearance changed many times. It remained in action from the time of its founding until the 18th century. Over time, the abbey came to complete desolation. Despite the fact that as early as 1840 the monastery was declared a national monument, it was restored only in 1963.