Marseille guide
Marseille is the second largest city in France and the most important commercial port in France. It covers an area of 240 square kilometers with approximately 850 000 inhabitants. Marseille is the sunniest city in France. It was a favorite place of Cezanne and Renoir.
Accommodation in Marseille
In Marseille, we offer about 170 various accommodation options, from hostels, apartments, 2-star hotels to the most luxurious variants. The most exclusive area is the Vieux Port, where there are the most luxurious hotels situated. Most of the luxury hotels have a rooftop pools and spas and offer breathtaking views of the bay. Luxury lovers might be interested in the hotel Le Petit Nice - Passedat with Michelin star awarded restaurants. Though Vieux Port is the most exclusive area, we can also offer plenty of affordable accommodation options here. For example Marseille Radisson Blu Hotel Marseille Vieux Port, Mercure Marseille Centre Vieux Port, Mercure Marseille Centre Prado, Novotel Marseille Centre Prado.
Weather in Marseille
Marseille is located in the southwestern part of France, on the Mediterranean coast. The climate here is Mediterranean, with warm summers and warm winters. The warmest season is summer with average temperature around 30 degrees. The coldest months are December, January and February, with daytime temperatures above 10 degrees.
History of Marseille
Marseille is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was inhabited as early as 600 BC, its original name was Massalia. The most famous inhabitant of Massalia was a mathematician and inventor Pytheas, who lived here in the 4th century BC. He was the first one that uttered the hypothesis that the tide is related to the different phases of the moon, he also circumnavigated the British Isles, came to Iceland. Over the years, Marseille has been under the protection of the Roman Empire, then part of the Visigoths, during the 14th century was decimated by plague. Over the following centuries it has became again one of the most important ports.
How to get to Marseille
The international airport Marseille-Provence International Airport is located about 30 km from the city center. You can use buses, trains or taxis to get to the city. For traveling around the city you can use a reliable public transport system consisting of metro, bus and tram. The city center is made up of narrow streets, including many one-way streets, and for this reason it is not recommended to drive downtown the city. You can park your car in a secure parking lot near the city and use metro, buses or trams.
Monuments in Marseille
Marseille is one of the most visited cities in France, it is a major center of art and history and home to many galleries and museums. The main landmark of the city is Old Port, guarded by two fortresses. Other important monuments include the Abbey The Abbey of Saint Victor, The lighthouse Phare de Sainte Marie, or cathedral Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille / Cathédrale de la Major. Not far from the coast of Marseille, there are Frivole islands, known from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monet Cristo.
Sport in Marseille
Marseille is a home to a football club Olympique Marseille, where famous Czech players Stepan Vachoušek and Rudolf Skacel used to play. Every year in February takes place in Marseille tennis tournament Open 13.
Famous personalities of Marseille
Those include footballers Zinedine Zidane, Eric Cantona and Samir Nasri, tennis player Sebastien Grosjean, Czech-French actress Chantal Poullain-Polívková or inventor of a seaplane Henri Fabre. In 1902, Czech politician Ignác Hořica died here.