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 Fine Local Church |
20 esplanade de la Tourette Marseille 13002 France |
Chapelle Sainte Catherine, right next to Eglise Saint-Laurent, was built in the seventeenth century. It contains a beautiful set of tapestries by the entryway. In addition to its spiritual functions, the Chapelle Sainte Catherine occasionally holds classical and choral concerts. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 The Arm of the Law |
Place Daviel Marseille 13002 France |
In centuries gone by, it was in the square of Pavillon Daviel (the former Law Courts), that the guillotine awaited its victims. The building was constructed by the Gérard brothers between 1743 and 1747, using pink stone from the quarries of neighbouring village Couronne on the Côte Bleue. The magnificent wrought iron balcony, with decorative panels à la marguerite was the work of sculptor Verdiguier. The sculptures depict the hand of Justice, the torch of Themis, the King's weapons, cherubs (sadly damaged during the Revolution), the Tables of the Law and Marseilles' coat of arms which is held up by children. For 130 years, all city tribunals took place here, later being used only for civil inquiries. Today, the building houses an annexe of the town hall. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Built in the 17th century in the gothic style |
4, place des Prêcheurs Marseille 13001 France +33 491 90 8547 |
Originally, this was a Dominican convent church built at the end of the 16th century. Dedicated in 1619 to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, the church then became a parish in 1803 dedicated to Saint Cannat, a former Marseille bishop. Inside is a superb organ case(1746-1749), the high alter of Fossaty (1755) as well as canvases by Michel Serre, all of which contribute to its historical heritage. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Pascal Lemoine |
 Hidden treasure |
Centre Bourse, square Belsunce Marseille 13001 France +33 491 90 4222 |
Excavation work in 1967, in preparation for the construction of the Centre Bourse, revealed a site of great archaeological interest. It consisted of remains of the ramparts of the ancient Greek city, as well as parts of the ancient Roman port and its soft water basin which was used to refuel ships. This port, which is the oldest on the Mediterranean, contributed greatly to Marseilles' role as a great metropolis of Antiquity, as well as the most influential city in France. Surrounded by a garden, the remains are now adjacent to the Centre Bourse. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
 Lest we forget |
Quai de la Tourette Marseille 13002 France +33 491 90 7315 |
Marseille' memorial to the Holocaust.Powerful eyewitness accounts from concentration and death camp victims have been re-transcribed. Together with previously unpublished photographs of the evacuation and the destruction of Marseille' historic quarters, they present a moving reminder of this tragic part of recent history.An important message for future generations. Admission: Free Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Pride in the past |
Rue Méry Marseille 13002 France |
Located near the Accoules bell tower, the Hôtel-Dieu was built in the 12th Century. It was formerly known as the Hôpital Saint-Esprit as it once served as a hospice in the old part of the city. The building - which has been enlarged several times - reached its definitive form in 1866, as a result of works undertaken by the nephew of the great architect H. Mansart. Its beautiful staircase was designed by architect Esprit Brun. This maginificent hospital building demonstrates the importance which has been accorded to medicine in Marseille since the time of Antiquity. Admission: Free Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Dominique PIPET |
 Photo: Mathias Barba |
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The oldest house in Marseilles |
Grand-Rue Marseille 13002 France |
Built in 1535 for the wives of Cabre, this is the oldest house in Marseilles. The main part of the Medieval residence was destroyed in the devastation of 1423. As a result, you will notice a mixture of styles incorporating both Louis XII and Renaissance. The building is situated in the old town, near Rue de la République (one of Marseilles' largest streets dating back to Imperial times) and the Vieux-Port. b>Admission: Free Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Monastery turned museum |
2, rue de la Charité Marseille 13002 France +33 491 14 5880 |
La Vielle Charité is an outstanding example of religious architecture from 17th-century France. Designed by Pierre Puget, the King's architect and also native to the area, it was constructed between 1671-1745 as a refuge for the city's orphans and beggars. Today it is a multidisciplinary centre promoting science and culture, including the Museum of Mediterranean Archeology and the Museum of African, Oceanic, and Amerindian Arts. The rectangular form of the buildings comprises four wings which open onto a courtyard, of which the centrepiece is a beautiful domed chapel in Italian baroque style. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: rododingdong_Bo2Nard |
 Photo: Nathan Kendall |
 Photo: rododingdong_Bo2Nard |
 Photo: Véronick |
 Photo: Kel Lee Chin |
 Photo: Thomas Estano  |
 Photo: Christian Loverde |
 Photo: Elvire.R. |
 Photo: chantal_delisle |
 Photo: olivier blachere |
 Photo: FranKc Orsoni |
 Photo: camino440 |
 Photo: Desrosiers, Québec |
 Photo: melb_ |
 Photo: Akemi. k |
 Photo: Julien PIERLOT |
 Photo: Janine MIGNOT |
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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 |
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The power of poetry |
2, rue de la Charité (Centre de la Vieille Charité) Marseille 13002 France +33 491 91 2645 http://www.cipmarseille.com |
Within the magnificence of the old Vieille Charité monastery, in the heart of the Panier district where the city was born, poetry harmonizes with exhibitions. From the most traditional to the most contemporary, the verses flow, the rhythm sings and the poetry pours off the page. The CIPM also organises lectures, debates and writing workshops. A library specializing in this literary art, containing over 5,000 volumes, gives you the chance to peruse the most essential works of the genre. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Mediterranean treasure chest |
Centre Vieille Charité, 2, rue de la Charité Marseille 13002 France +33 491 14 58 80 |
The Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, second in France only to the Louvre, occupies part of the imposing old monastery, the Vieille Charite, in the Panier district. The Egyptian collection, bequeathed by respected archeologist Dr. Clot-Bey, spans the Ancient Empire through to the Coptic Period. A number of artefacts and classical antiquities from Roquepertuse (3 BC) and other excavation sites are beautifully represented. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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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 |
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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 |
 Photo: Sarah Jukes |
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Imposing splendor |
Place de la Major Marseille 13002 France +33 491 90 5357 |
This Roman-Byzantine cathedral was built in the middle of the 19th Century by Léon Vaudoyer, on the remains of the ancient Roman-Provençal "Major" building which dates back to the 12th Century.With a capacity of 3000, it is the largest cathedral in France since the Middle Ages and inside, the marble slabs, impressive porphyry columns and mosaics reflect the cathedral's true splendor, complemented by magnificent altars from the 12th and 15th centuries, and earthenware from the Della Robbia workshop. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Frédéric BLANC |
 Photo: Pancras van der Vlist |
 Photo: Jennifer chandler |
 Photo: lougraou |
 Photo: Claire Duvivier |
 Photo: dominique hugon |
 Photo: Claude Babolat |
 Photo: Dan from Mars |
 Photo: kafeole |
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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 |
 Photo: Monica |
 Photo: Janez JP |
 Photo: guillaumeseverin |
 Photo: Michael Thorn |
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Pomègues and Rotonneau islands |
7, quai des Belges (Cie G.A.C.M.) Marseille 13001 France +33 491 55 5009 |
Just off the coast of Marseilles, the islands of Pomègues and Ratonneau, connected by a sea wall, present an arid, windswept landscape where sea birds seek refuge. The rugged contours of the coastline are broken up by rocky inlets, fine sandy beaches and small coves. On Ratonneau you can see the Neoclassical chapel, and the Hôpital Caroline, designed by architect Penchaud, where in centuries gone by, those who had contracted yellow fever were kept in quarantine before being allowed access to the city. Take time to appreciate the unrestricted, breathtaking view of Marseilles - a vantage point that only the islands can offer! Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Socco Sibats |
 Photo: sam72t |
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Architectural emblem |
La Gare St-Charles (Boulevard d'Athenes) Marseille 13001 France |
In 1908, Marseilles' town council launched a project for architects to design a monumental stairway outside the station, the contract being awarded to architects Serres and Arnal. The construction of the staircase which dominates the city with its 104 steps was undertaken between 1925 and 1927, and the inauguration took place a year later in 1928 (the station itself was opened in 1848) with the arrival of then President of the Republic - Gaston Doumergue.Adorned with statues which depict the glories of France's African and Asian colonies, evoking Marseilles' commercial past, the stairway is of both historical and architectural importance and has become part of the city's heritage. Indeed, scenes from Jacques Deray's film Borsalino (1970) were filmed on its steps. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Olivier BOURGOIN |
 Photo: Rima |
 Photo: Ben Parsons |
 Photo: 365photos.free.fr |
 Photo: Kar Wai Ng |
 Photo: Liesbeth Bosschaert |
 Photo: Davi Barbosa |
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Canvases by Michel Serre |
Quai du Port Marseille 13001 France |
In the twelfth century, the site of Saint Ferréol's church was a Templar command post; the monastico-chivalric order was banned, and in 1369 the Augustine monks acquired the Knights' buildings. The current church was consecrated in 1542 and finished in the 18th century. In 1804, city planners had two of the structure's five bays removed; the erection of a neo-Baroque façade, executed by Désiré Michel, followed. Within the church one may view a pulpit designated as a historical monument, the reliquary bust of Saint Ferréol, and canvases by the Provençal painter Michel Serre. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Dominique PIPET |
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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 |
 Photo: jochlenw |
 Photo: demorlaixversnimes |
 Photo: Knut Klinkhammer |
 Photo: Patrick-Alain Proute |
 Photo: RRR J.R. |
 Photo: Florent Carnoy |
 Photo: Maxime VALETTE |
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In the Roman-provincial style |
Esplanade de la Tourette Marseille 13002 France +33 491 90 9981 |
This Roman-Provincial church was built in the 12th century, exactly in the same place where the first Greek temple, dedicated to Apollo once stood. The fourteenth-century belfry was rebuilt in the 17th century, but in 1668, when the St-Jean fort was extended, the hillock descending towards the sea was cut off by a ditch, destroying the church façade. The main access to the church is now on the right-hand side. This lovely church and her Saint Catherine chapel withstood the destruction of this fishing district (the Saint-Jean district) during the occupation by the German troops in 1943, preserving its beautiful Roman architecture of pink limestone, found in La Couronne, a nearby village on the Riviera. Its vault is decorated with liemes and tiercerons, from a late Gothic period, only found in Marseille and the chapel holds many different works of art of which certain originate from Saint-Laurent. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: delio |
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Celebration of commerce |
La Canebière Marseille 13001 France |
This neo-classical palace is located on the Canebière, close to the Vieux-Port. Designed by architect Pascal Coste for Napoléon III, it houses Marseilles' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1599, and the Maritime Museum. The façades of this splendid edifice feature an array of sculptures which were constructed to celebrate Marseilles' Golden Age of navigation and commerce. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Architectural symbol |
Rue de la Prison Marseille 13002 France |
Situated in the very heart of the city, the house boasts a striking façade of diamond-shaped stones and a beautifully sculptured staircase. Built by a wealthy Marseilles merchant between 1570 and 1576, it is a fine example of 16th Century civil architecture. It was inspired by the palaces of the Renaissance, in particular the Diamond Palace in Ferrare, Italy. Today the building houses a museum dedicated to the old town of Marseilles. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Symbol of power |
Quai du Port (Place de l'Hôtel de ville) Marseille 13002 France +33 442 91 9000 |
Set on the right bank of the old port, the town hall which was built in 1656, is a beautiful example of the civil architecture of the period. The town council—representing power and democracy—has been meeting here since the Middle Ages. Today, it houses the offices of the mayor, municipal councilors and other administrative offices. Its stately presence is a symbol of power—from both the past and the present. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jennifer Ennis |
 Photo: Rose Iksic |
