Schmap Marseille Historical Background

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Marseille - Historical Background
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Marseille is the oldest town in France. The legend surrounding the origins of the town go back to 600 B.C. Greek sailors coming from Phocaea (Asia Minor) chose to focus their activity in the Lacydon creek - the present location of the Vieux Port. The day they arrived, the leader of the Greeks, Protis made a visit to the Ligure tribe, which had settled there. It just so happened that on that very day, Gyptis, daughter of King Naan was to be married. Gyptis chose Protis as her husband above a number of other suitors - he had also fallen head over heels for her - and thus, Massalia was founded.

Massalia quickly became a successful city thanks to the commercial talent of the Greeks. Trading posts were set up all along the Mediterranean coast, in particular at Agde, Arles and Le Brusc. Massalia's history is one of turbulence and uncertainty. Initially the city went into decline when it was taken over by Rome. Her fleet, treasure and trading posts became the property of Caesar. After the invasions she became a port which was favourable to commercial activity. In the eleventh century, the city began to expand. A vast boatyard came under construction but Marseille quickly fell under the control of Charles d'Anjou. The town also opposed Louis XIV, and was conquered once again. The Fort Saint Nicolas and the Fort Saint Jean were both built. At that time, Massalia was under the control of Colbert who developed the city's infrastructure. Business prospered on an international scale.

The Great Plague

Periods of prosperity alternate with times of crisis, and just when Massalia had become a truly international port it was hit by a plague. The Great Plague was a major event during the eighteenth century. The origins of the epidemic were a ship, the Le Grand Saint Antoine. Quarantine was not sufficient, and the plague swept through the town. In May 1720 Marseille was cut off from the rest of Provence. The parliament in Aix forbade any communication with Marseille upon pain of death. However the plague continued to spread all the same to Aix, Apt, Arles, Toulon, and soon the whole of France was touched by it. The city was not completely wiped out, but it had lost half its population. The revolution was eagerly received. It was in 1792 that the war song, sung by the army of the Rhine and composed by Rouget de Lisle - known as La Marseillaise - became an anthem. Marseille then rebelled against the 'Convention'. As a result she became 'the town with no name' for a few months.

World War II

The town was also involved in World War II. At the time she was under the jurisdiction of the central power and districts such as Panier were destroyed. Once the war was over, the port became an important thoroughfare, and the city built hospitals and the metropolitan network.

Modern Marseille

Today excavations which have been carried out in the Vieux Port area and in the Centre Bourse, have revealed many vestiges of the past. They reveal that this city is a place with an extremely rich and varied history.

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Centre Bourse

City centre shopping arcade

17, cours Belsunce
Marseille 13231
France
http://www.centre-bourse.com

At the heart of the city center by its geographical location and its attractive boutiques, this center has a large variety (about 60 shops) in quite a small area (4 floors don't worry they do have escalators!) It attracts all sorts of people as it has shops varying from FNAC, to the Nouvelles Galeries, Etam, Expotamie, Habitat or even nature and discovery shops to Hobbies and many others. There are of course places to sit, eat or to rest between shops. This center can save time as you have all your favorite shops in the one place. Beware of peak days (weekends, sales, holidays) where the crowds can make it unbearable! Paying underground parking.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Panier Quarter

The lively old town Place de Lenche
Marseille 13002
France
One of the city's oldest districts, the Panier is where the ancient Phocaeans first settled and founded the city of Massilia. Using the 18th-century Hôtel-Dieu and Notre Dame des Accoules church bell tower (17th-19th century) as reference points, these lead to the foot of Montée des Accoules - a series of steep flights of steps typical of old Marseilles - which lead right to the heart of the district and pedestrians' paradise. Once home to the ancient city's Greek agora (a public open space used for assemblies and markets), Place de Lenche still bustles with life and has its own market, restaurants and theater. At the summit of the old town is Place des Moulins, which in the 16th century lived up to its name with no less than fifteen flour mills. These days its fountain and school help maintain its village square tranquility and charm.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Saint-Jean Fort

Fortifying the town Quai du Port
Marseille 13002
France
+33 491 13 8900 (office du Tourisme) Standing at the southern entrance to the Vieux-Port on the north bank, Fort Saint-Jean was built to protect the old town. Dating back to the end of the 12th Century, it is named after the religious order of Saint-Jean-de-Jerusalem. The square Roy René tower was added to the port side of the fort in the 15th Century, and the look-out tower was added to the seaward side in the 18th Century. Exhibitions and visits to the Roy René tower are regularly organized. The Tourist Office will be happy to provide information on alternative tours.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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The Old Port

Where the city's roots lie Vieux-Port
(Boulevard Charles Livon)
Marseille 13001
France
Capture the essence of Marseille at the early morning fish market that takes place here daily or go for a stroll round the port, looking at the yachts and fishing boats bobbing gently side by side. Relax on one of the numerous café pavement terraces facing the port and watch the world go by or climb its south bank, from the top of which Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica commands an all-encompassing view of the city.The history of the port goes back as far as 600BC, with the arrival of sailors from Phocaea (a Greek city in Asia Minor). France's oldest city came into being following the union of one of their leaders, Protis, with Gyptis, princess of the Ligurian people already settled in the region, whose territory in ancient times stretched right along the Mediterranean coast.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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