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MAC Marseille - Art & Entertainment
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Of equal importance in Marseille are the large number of museums dealing with the history of the city and the multitude of galleries, which exhibit contemporary art. Marseille is very good at self-promotion and is a real cultural melting pot.

Museums and Galleries

The town boasts about 15 museums and more than 70 galleries. If you want to get to know the city better, start with the Musée d'Histoire de Marseille and its garden filled with relics. Following that, you may wish to find out about Provençal tradition at the Musée du Vieux Marseille or alternatively at the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires. Interestingly, there is also a museum of ornamental figures. Feast your eyes on numerous collections of ceramics at the Musée de la Faïence. Paintings and sculptures are housed at the Musée Grobet-Labadie and at the Musée des Beaux-Arts. In the sphere of economics, there is the Musées des Docks Romains and the Musée de la Marine which will chart the history of Phocaen commerce.

Primitive Art: There is a stunning collection of masks and statues at the huge Vieille Charité. The Musée d'Arts Africains, Océaniens, Amérindiens will give you itchy feet. The Galerie Caroline Serero also exhibits African art.

Contemporary Art: For those who like contemporary art, the MAC hosts several permanent and temporary collections. Major artists from Marseille are represented here. The galleries are always very lively. For example, the ACAPS displays sculpture. The Galerie Horizon and Jean François Meyer—and even the Fonds Régional d'Art Contemporain PACA are all dedicated to the medium of sculpture.

Figurative art: Classic Provençal painting is very popular with the people of Marseille and there are numerous galleries: one of the oldest, the Galerie Jouvène displays the work of Briata, Monticelli and Ambriogiani. The Galerie Jean-Pierre Sylvestre is a little more upmarket but in the same vein.

Cinema

There are many different cinemas in Marseille. Your choice will depend on the type of film you want to watch and your budget. At the moment, two art house cinemas are very popualr: the César and the Variétés. These show art house films and shorts, always in the original language - admission is always fairly inexpensive. If you prefer to see films in French or like multi-screen cinemas, the UGC Capitole is one of the cheapest, as is the Chambord - there is something here for everyone.

Theatre and Dance

The Theatre National de la Criée is the main theatre in Marseille, but there are many others. There are always many theatre groups around and the cultural melting pot keeps boiling away. Whether you go to the Quai du rire or to the Antidote, laughter is always the favourite medicine. At the Theatre Axel Toursky and the Gyptis, debut work is the name of the game. For dance, there is always the National Ballet, (Pietragalla) - you will need to make enquiries to find out where the ballet is on.

ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC

Classical: The Odéon regularly stages classical concerts. There is also a place that music lovers are particularly fond of, called the Abbaye St Victor, which put on a festival.

Jazz-Blues: Many of the cafés offer jazz music. The Caravelle is one of these.

House, Disco, Rap, Fusion: For House music, the best place to go is the 'Trolley Bus' in the Vieux Port. The Intermédiaire is an alternative rock venue and also very popular. The Poste à Galène showcases a mixture of rap, rock and reggae. Concerts are held in the Espace Julien, the Theatre du Moulin and obviously the Dôme - the zenith of entertainment in Marseille. The Docks des Suds offers many different types of Mediterranean music.

GARDENS AND PARKS

The gardens and parks of Marseille are new. They are all about 20 years old. The Parc du Palais Longchamp and Borély are the best: both for walkers and those who like to play football. The Parc Valmer offers a fantastic view of the sea. The Parc Pastré can be found near the château of the same name. The Parc des Bruyères is a place where nature makes its presence felt.

SPORT

It is impossible to ignore the fact that Marseille is a football city. Olympic Marseille play their matches at the Stade Vélodrome. If you prefer running, the Corniche (coastal road) and the Parc Borély are where joggers tend to congregate. Some are training for the Marseille-Cassis half marathon which takes place in autumn. Horse riding is organised at the Pont de Vivaux and Borély hippodromes. The Open 13 tennis tournament takes place each year in February at the Palais des Sports.







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Borély Park


Magnificent park
Avenue du Parc Borély
Marseille 13008
France
+33 491 76 5938
This magnificent 54-hectare park to the south of the city was designed by landscape gardener Alphan. Water is a major feature here, with beautiful ponds and lakes throughout. An 18th century country house stands in the heart of this open space, complimented beautifully by a garden "à la française" and a 19th century landscaped park. Other points of interest include botanical gardens with a rose garden and tropical greenhouse. Children love coming here to feed the ducks, take the go-carts for a spin, or watch the model boats sailing on the lake. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Borély Park photo by Lionel Gottrau
Photo: Lionel Gottrau
Borély Park photo by filipe ferreira
Photo: filipe ferreira
 

 
Contemporary Galleries of the Museum of Marseille


Talent spotting
69, avenue de Haïfa
Marseille 13008
France
+33 491 25 0107
Marseille Contemporary Art Museum, located on the Corniche, presents 4000m2 of temporary exhibits and permanent collections. The gallery focusses attention on the contemporary art of the new realists, and shows examples of Arte Povera. Leading exponents of current artistic developments such as César, Tinguely, Viallat, Buren and Boltanski are also well represented. A fascinating opportunity to discover and appreciate the creations and trends of modern-day art.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Contemporary Galleries of the Museum of Marseille photo by Astrid Berglund
Photo: Astrid Berglund
 

 
Docks des Suds


Cultural and rhythmic melting pot
12, rue Urbain V
Marseille 13002
France
+33 491 00 3040
http://www.dock-des-suds.org
The city's hippest entertainment and exhibition venue might not look much from the outside, but venture inside and its unique décor and fantastic atmosphere tell another story... Spread over 5000m², the 'Docks' is home to concerts, cabaret, exhibitions, restaurants offering global cuisine and a 3000-seater auditorium to boot. Although right in the heart of the city's docklands, the place manages to recreate a villagey atmosphere, perhaps best experienced during 'Fiesta des Suds' - an annual feast of music, food and art from around the Mediterranean that takes place in October and one of the most popular events on the venue's year-round programme. Admission charges are'Fiesta des Suds' around EUR 15.24. The timings for the show depend on programming and type of performance.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Docks des Suds photo by Julien Anselme
Photo: Julien Anselme
 

 
Espace Julien


From "rap" to raï but also jazz and rock music.
39, cours Julien
Marseille 13006
France
+33 491 24 3410
http://www.espace-julien.com
All types of music are represented here from rap to rai, jazz to rock. The auditorium has 1000 seats alongside the 150 seater cafe. In the heart of the plain, this up to date area caters for all tastes. There are concerts throughout the year.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Espace Julien photo by Aurélie Perez
Photo: Aurélie Perez
 

 
Galerie Jouvène


The Pride of Provence
39, rue Paradis
Marseille 13001
France
+33 491 33 3201
The 150-year old Galerie Jouvène stands proud in the heart of the city. In recognition of its origins, it houses an array of classical paintings, and in particular, representations of Provence from the 17th Century to the present day.Ambrogiani, Monticelli and the enduring Briata are among the most illustrious artists whose works honor this establishment, where devotees of the region's light can meet to see it shine in all its glory.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Grobet-Labadie Museum


Provençal-style art
140, boulevard Longchamp
Marseille 13001
France
+33 491 62 2182
From the foot of the monumental stairway of Palais Longchamp, this 19th-century mansion house cannot be missed. Nor can the unique art collection housed within...The private collections of wealthy Marseilles merchants Louis Grobet and Marie-Louise Labadie reveal an exquisite array of local artifacts ranging from 13th to 18th Century. Including sculptures, paintings, drawings, furniture, tapestries and a selection of earthenware, it altogether represents the richness and diversity of the region's artists.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Le Dôme


The Zenith of Marseille
48, ave Saint-Just
Marseille 13004
France
+33 491 12 2121
http://www.le-dome.com
The zenith, native of marseille is a compulsory stop for all stars on tours. Extraordinary futuristic works, this metal dome topped by a mint green arch, which hides an 8000 seat auditorium. The new Alcazar reminds us the name of what has been the most famous music hall in the town. Notre Dame of Paris has even made a stop here. If you like large scale concerts- do not hesitate. All the major shows are also shown here. The one-man shows have their place here.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Le Dôme photo by Denis G.
Photo: Denis G.
Le Dôme photo by Romain Thouvenin
Photo: Romain Thouvenin
 

 
Longchamp Park


Central Park
Boulevard Longchamp
Marseille 13001
France
+33 491 64 1575
Formerly the site of a zoological park, these gardens are situated behind Longchamp Palace - the sumptuous architectural masterpiece from the Second Empire built to commemorate the arrival of water in the city, and now home to both arts and science museums. The wealth of waterfalls, fountains and sculptures create a truly magical atmosphere, intoxicating every visitor with surroundings reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance. It is the perfect place to find relaxation. The Marseilles Observatory in Place Leverrier which holds regular planetarium shows is also nearby.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Longchamp Park photo by olivier siri
Photo: olivier siri
Longchamp Park photo by Linus Mak
Photo: Linus Mak
Longchamp Park photo by David G McMurray
Photo: David G McMurray
Longchamp Park photo by Rico' Touch
Photo: Rico' Touch
 

 
Maritime and Economic Museum


The rule of the sea
Palais de la Bourse 9, la Canebière
Marseille 13001
France
+33 491 39 3333
The city's Chamber of Commerce and Industry has installed this museum within the Palais de la Bourse. It portrays the strong link which unites the city with the sea through a collection of paintings, engravings and models. 2600 years of maritime history unfold at random in themed rooms and exhibits focusing on shipping trade and life on the port.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Museum of Fine Arts


Sample the fine arts
Palais Longchamp, 140, boulevard Longchamp
Marseille 13004
France
+33 491 14 5930
The Musee des Beaux-Arts resides in Marseilles' Palais Longchamp, an architectural masterpiece in its own right, built to celebrate the city's access to water during the Second Empire. French, Italian and Flemish schools of painting converge over two floors. The collection includes works by Perugino, Rubens, David and Courbet, interspersed with sculptures by Puget and Daumier. Provence also has its place, featuring in displays from the prolific period between the 17th and 19th Centuries.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Museum of Old Marseille


Local heritage
Rue de la Prison
Marseille 13002
France
+33 491 55 2868
http://www.mairie-marseille.fr...
Marseilles' local history museum was created at the end of the 19th Century, under the initiative of Frédéric Mistral and Provençal poet Félibrige. Housed in la Maison Diamantée, a stunning mansion with a façade of diamond-shaped reliefs, the location is in itself a symbol of times gone by.The vast inventory of exhibits, including Provençal furniture, contoured maps of the town, traditional costumes and local-style figurines, conjures up daily life, shipping trade and popular traditions in the old city. Paintings and engravings ranging from the 17th to 20th Century further enhance this snapshot of Marseille culture.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions


Custom made Marseille
5, place des Héros
(Château-Gombert)
Marseille 13013
France
+33 491 68 1438
http://www.mairie-marseille.fr...
Located in the Château-Gombert district, north-east of the city, the museum was established in 1928 by Julien Pignol, a Provençal poet anxious to preserve local tradition. A permanent exhibition of everyday objects, period furniture and costumes offers a fascinating exposé of local customs from the 17th-19th centuries. The Christmas crib and its symbolic figurines have pride of place in this journey through the history of Provence. Admission: EUR3,10.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Museum of the Roman Docks


Trading places
Place Vivaux
Marseille 13002
France
+33 491 91 2462
Created in 1963, this museum harbours the remains of one of the few preserved trading ports in the world. Discovered during the reconstruction of the old port area which was destroyed during World War II, these archeological remains are testimony to the commercial activity of Marseilles, the Phocaean City, in ancient times. Other exhibits retrace the Greek and medieval period from 6 BC to 4 AD, giving a revealing insight into the different kinds of merchandise that passed through the city. For instance, you can see an amphora - the ancient Greek two-handled jar - as well as details of how it was made, and pieces of wreckage, once buried in the depths beyond the harbour, have now been raised for display.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Museum of the Roman Docks photo by Sarah Jukes
Photo: Sarah Jukes
 

 
Valmer Park


Park with a sea view
Corniche Kennedy
Marseille 13007
France
Set at the foot of the mountain road, after the Fausse-Monnaie bridge, the luxurious vegetation of this public park is dominated by the Valmer villa - architectural symbol of the Second Empire perched on the headland. With wonderful views of Marseilles' harbor and islands, this is an ideal spot for finding some peace and quiet or for taking a stroll in the golden light of the Mediterranean sunset.Admission: Free.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Valmer Park photo by Céline Dubreuil
Photo: Céline Dubreuil
Valmer Park photo by Robert Cudmore
Photo: Robert Cudmore
Valmer Park photo by Sophie GS
Photo: Sophie GS
 

 
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Marseille - Dining & Drinking

Other nearby cities:
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Genoa (304 miles)
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Milan (377 miles)
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