As blue as Marseille

As with many a port cities, Marseille’s demography has been shaped by its port. Today, its populace is a healthy mixture of the neighbouring Corsicans, Italians, Armenians, the Algerians and many others. In short, it combines big-city swagger and fishing-village sociability.

What strikes immediately as you descend up on Marseille is how blue everything looks. The clearest skies are outlined by monochromatic land that instantly gives way to another shade of the deepest blue in the shape of the Mediterranean Sea. And then as you walk alongside the Old Port of Marseille, you realise that this was the setting that Ludlum chose to introduce his hero Jason Bourne who was found floating unconscious in the Mediterranean Sea near Marseille, located in southern France.

Life revolves around water

The present port city is nothing like that it used to be in the early 1900’s. Historically, the economy of Marseille was dominated by its role as a port of the French Empire. A major portion of the port and docks have now been redeveloped and house restaurants and bars. Having said that, the city’s economy is still linked to its commercial port. Cruise liners can be seen docking at the terminal with regular frequency to and from Algeria, Corsica, Sardinia, and Tunisia, making it even more busy in tourist season. And since Marseille is part of the French Riviera resort coastline area, the port is also a departure point for Rhone River cruises to Provence and Burgundy – France’s main wine regions.

Fishing obviously is an important part of Marseille life and the food economy of Marseille is fed by the local catch. At its heart is the Vieux-Port (Old Port), where fishmongers sell their catch along the boat-lined quay. It comes as no surprise then that Marseille’s most famous dish is a seafood dish called bouillabaisse!

Sites and sounds!

It will be blasphemy to not talk about the mother of all noteworthy sites in Marseille – the Notre-Dame de la Garde or Our Lady of the Guard. This Catholic basilica is the city’s best-known symbol and can be seen from anywhere in the city, built on the foundations of an ancient fort at the highest natural point in Marseille.

Chateau D'If

Another point on the axis which is worth exploring (and perhaps even reminiscing about) is Chateau D’If made so famous by Alexandre Dumas. It is the fortress (and later a prison) made famous by his novel ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and is just about a 20-minute boat ride from the port. Though the Count was fictional, you can see the hole through which Dumas had him escape.

However, the weather in Marseille is unpredictable and the infamous mistral winds can overturn your plans within minutes. So it is good to have a plan B, which could be to discover the oldest district of France and a historical quarter called ‘Le Panier’, which literally translates to ‘the basket’. It’s narrow, hilly lanes can best be explored on foot, which can be done in about two hours.

  

Must buy!

All these activities can be done using the Marseille City Pass! It is dedicated to individual visitors who wish to discover Marseille with an all-in package. This pass is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours and allows access to many attractions.

Did you know?

Marseilles has a history of soap-making and the Marseille soap or ‘Savon de Marseille’ is a traditional hard soap made from olive oil that has been produced around Marseille, for about 600 years.

 

Savon de Marseille

Don’t miss

The MuCem stands out as a great museum dedicated to the Mediterranean. This cutting-edge structure with breath-taking architecture opened its doors in June 2013 while Marseille was the European Capital of Culture. Its intricate building was designed by architect Rudy Riciotti and it was the first museum entirely dedicated to Mediterranean culture.

The MuCem

Scratch that itch

Even as more and more travellers discover the magic of exploring a destination through experiences, the experiences that they seek are also undergoing an evolution of sorts. They are getting more and more local and specific – like visiting the local markets or attending a traditional wedding ceremony. Hyper-local is where tourism is heading towards.

In fact, according to TripAdvisor, taking classes and workshops is one of the fastest-growing types of local experiences globally. Learning the intricacies of the region’s textile weave or studying the local dialect/dance form affords travellers huge bragging rights!

However, one kind of experience is eclipsing all the others and it involves food! It is the mother-of-all, most primal instincts that travellers like to indulge. Whether it is culinary tours, cooking classes or street-grub tours, food inspires the traveller and the gourmand in us. What has fuelled this passion further is the social media tool – Instagram! Suddenly there is an explosion of food-based travel that highlights the specialities of that destination. Tourism boards quickly caught on to this trend and have been promoting their country’s foods and beverages like never before. Videos of food-tastings and chefs making local dishes are going viral quicker than any other activity.

All this is possible only if there is help from an ‘insider’ – a local who can help travellers explore the destination like a local and make the entire process more interactive, more educational, rather than it being just about gazing through the window of a tour bus. Technology plays its role as well. Smart phones and various travel apps help travellers scratch their itch – even while on the move. Itinerary changes, buying additional experiences, sharing videos and photos even as they are experiencing it, have all been possible with the help of technology. A common thread that binds all the above experiences though is ‘authenticity’ not just from its giver but also from its receiver in an effort to undertake unfeigned and sincere journeys.