Shore Excursions Group
Highlights Of Marseille
Highlights of Marseille
Marseille is enjoying a cultural renaissance and you will see why during this 4-hour small tour. This city is the second largest one in France and was the European Capital of Culture in 2013.
Your adventure begins with a trip to Marseille’s historical center. Walk along the Vieux Port dotted with shops and restaurants while your tour guide reveals the port’s journey from a 6th century trade post to the area’s hub of maritime activity in the 19th century. From there you will head to the colonnade-lined Palais Longchamp at the terminus of the Durance River. Inaugurated in 1869 as a monument to commemorate the connection of Marseille to a new waterway network, the combination large fountain-waterfall-water tower has two wings that house the city’s natural history museum and Musee des beaux-arts.
Continue marveling at Marseille’s highlights such as the stunning Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. Situated on the foundation of an ancient fort, this building rests on the highest elevation in the city overlooking Marseille. Consecrated in 1864 to replace an 11th century church by the same name, the Basilique has a lower crypt built in the Romanesque style and an upper church that was built in the Neo-Byzantine style using green limestone from Florence. You’ll have the opportunity to go inside the Basilique and explore the symbol of the city of Marseille for approximately thirty minutes.
Sign up today for your opportunity to step back into the history and culture of beautiful Marseille.
Please Note: The tour vehicle varies based on the size of the group.
| Day 1 |
Marseilles is an enticing port city known for its delectable seafood, breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, and diverse melting pot of cultures. Less travelled by tourists than its other Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur counterparts, including Cannes and Nice, this seaside city is a vibrant, artistic, and historically significant stop worth exploring! Believed to have been established in the seventh century by the Phoenicians or Greeks, Marseille is now the second largest French city after Paris and was named the European Capital of Culture in 2013. Marseille is a city of and for immigrants, with a blend of cultures and religions from North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and more, reflected in the gastronomic and architectural diversity of Marseille itself. Visit the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, constructed in an Arabic architectural style, for an immersive experience with exhibits showcasing the artifacts of Marseille’s extensive history. The city’s most frequented attraction, the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, is a stunning display of Roman and Byzantine design and provides spectacular views of the city below. A trip to Marseille wouldn’t be complete without a stroll through Le Vieux Port and Le Panier, popular neighborhoods for tourism and lined with markets boasting fresh and authentic cuisine. Bouillabaisse, a delicious stew filled with local and fresh-caught seafood, is well-known as a Marseillaise specialty, but don’t pass up the chance to eat other scrumptious eats, including squid, sardines, and mussels, piping-hot pizzas, and a sip of anise-flavored Pastis. There’s a reason why the city was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite gastronomic destinations! Be sure to take advantage of Marseille’s natural beauty. The variety of sandy and rocky beaches are perfect spots to revel in striking ocean scenes. Just south of Marseille, the Parc national des Calanques offers great hiking, biking, and boating excursions for any nature-lover. With so much to see and do, Marseille, France, will delight and astonish you. |
| Travel Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
05/03/22 - 04/09/27 |
Starting At $115 |
Get A Quote |
Guests must be able to step in and out of the vehicle. This tour can accommodate a collapsible wheelchair or walker, if the person in the wheelchair has a companion to provide assistance.
