Marseille is the most populated city in the whole of France, after Paris. However, unlike most densely populated cities in the world, Marseille has been able to come out of the shadow of sleaze and danger to become an attractive tourist spot. The city has undergone a rapid change over the past few years and has been successful in attracting a diverse range of tourists, who seem to have been attracted by the beautiful beaches and historical landscape of the city.
Other than being the second most populated city, Marseille is also the second biggest city of France. It is well known for its spectacular Mediterranean coastline and harbor. Other than the coastline, Marseille is also known as the most historic cities of France. It has an extremely colorful landscape and terracotta roofs, which make it a spectacle for visitors looking to discover the traces of past history. Marseille is also home to a number of sandy beaches, with a lot of coastal attractions.
Other things that tourists might find quite attractive in this city are the busy markets, old port and pleasure boats. The Marseille tourist information Centre can be found at the end of Marseille’s Canebière thoroughfare. It provides tourism advice and maps of the main districts to assist visitors.
Some of the highlights of the city include Basilique Notre Dame de La Garde, which is located on the southern side of Vieux Port; Château d’If, the exhibition center of Centre de la Vieille Charité and the La Cathedrale de la Nouvelle Major, which is a 17th century cathedral. Other famous tourist sights around Marseille include parks and gardens of Parc Borély, the Jardin du Pharo and the Jardin Pierre Puget.
Marseille is also worth visiting due to the large number of adjacent cities, towns and villages, which are perfect for tourist day trips. An example is the city of Aix-en-Provence that is known for its spacious public mansions, fishing villages of Cassis offers a breathtaking coastline and a number of secluded beaches. Also close to Marseille and worth a look is the port of La Ciotat, the town of Aubagne, and the medieval market town of Arles.
If your fascination is history and museums, then Marseille is the best option. It is home to some fine museums and art galleries, namely Musée d’Histoire Naturelle (museum) and Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne.
If you visit Marseille then the Musée du Vieux Marseille is also worth a visit, which provides local history and information. If you want to know about more modern trends, then check out Musée Cantini, as it houses modern art works and paintings by well-known artists.