Marseille

Today, the population of Marseille is almost 1 million people. The main phenomenon of the city is that there are not more than 50% of the native Frenchmen here. Immigrants from countries of North Africa form around 30% of the population. Besides, around 80 000 Armenians and the same number of Jews live here. Don’t forget to add a considerable diaspora of Greeks, Poles, Italians, and you will get a real cocktail of cultures and nationalities called Marseille.

The post-war period determined the modern history of Marseille. It was harsh, shabby, permeated with the smell of dirt and fish. The city stood in contrast with its glamorous neighbors along the French Riviera. Its streets gathered the degraded and outcast immigrants from other European countries and former colonies. The henchmen of the gangster Paul Carbone produced heroin in the sea docks and shipped it to Europe and overseas. The dealers’ activities were shut only in the 90s.

When the flow of immigrants and the level of unemployment reached their peak, the city was absorbed into the atmosphere of total despair. It was decided at the country level to save Marseille. In the 2000s, the city received considerable financial injections. As a result, many art spaces, nightclubs, restaurants, cultural objects, and modern residential complexes were opened. The tourist industry began to develop and grow: museums opened their doors, and festivals invited guests. By 2013, Marseille was proclaimed to be the European capital of culture. However, many people are still scared of the city’s shady past. There are still legends about gangsterism on the streets of the capital of Provence. Believe us, Marseille as it is won’t disappoint experienced travelers.

Don’t sit inside the four walls of your hotel room! Participate in the annual events in Marseille. For example, “The Music and Culture of Diasporas” and “The Saint Music” festivals fill the city with an atmosphere of celebration in August and October accordingly. In October, Marseille is absorbed into the “Southern Fiesta”. In November, the connoisseurs of Modern Art gather at “Bazaar”. In March, the international exhibition of motorboats and yachts “Les Nautica” opens the holiday season in the Mediterranean.

• Ascend to the observation deck of Notre-Dame de la Garde. The view of the city is mind-blowing: the sea, mountains, and the red roofs of the ancient districts will be at your feet.
• Explore the Château d'If where the person in an iron mask lived. This fantastic castle described in the iconic novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas stands on a separate island located 2 kilometers from the coast. The castle used to be a high-security prison and hides lots of myths and legends.
• Visit the architectural legacy of Le Corbusier called “The Radiant City”. It’s not just a simple residential district as you might have thought. This place is a real masterpiece and the utopic idea of municipal engineering. Who knows, maybe in the nearest future, the ideas of Le Corbusier will be the fundamentals of town planning.
• Get acquainted with the traditional Marseilles cuisine. First of all, taste bouillabaisse. It’s a stew made of seafood. Marseille is the only place where they cook the most delicious bouillabaisse. Local sailors sell fish and mussels for the dish right at the local market. 
• Admire the landscapes of the Calanques. These the Provencal fjords that cut the whole coastline. Grey rocks, a sky-blue sea, snow-white yachts on the horizon, the odor of salt and pine - you will definitely enjoy an unforgettable walk around the national park. 
• Suddenly drop by the Arab Quarter and feel as if you were standing on the coast of Northern Africa. Its streets are hanged with colorful clothes, women wear turbans, they serve couscous in cafes, dark-skinned men sell hashish squatting by the ruins of the houses, and the Algerian kids play football (a T-shirt with the number of Zinedine Zidane is a must).