Marseille

Marseille, the French port city, will reward you with its monuments, excellent cuisine, and Mediterranean atmosphere. The heart of the city is the Vieux-Port, the Old Port, which lies in a small bay, today surrounded by houses with restaurants and bars. The entrance to this part of the city is guarded by two fortresses – St. Jean and St. Nicholas. One of the landmarks of this district is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, which rises above the roofs of the surrounding houses and offers a breathtaking view of the city and the sea. In the southwestern part of the Old Port, visit the church of St. Victor, where the crypt from the 5^th century is still preserved. In the very centre of the area stands the building of the Marseille town hall from the 17^th century.

While walking through the city, you cannot miss the Romanesque church of St. Laurent from the 12^th century and the breathtaking Cathédrale de la Major. Also try popular local specialties. These include Bouillabaisse soup (which is made from three types of fish, crustaceans, herbs, and vegetables), local wine, and pastis (anise brandy).

Also visit the surroundings of Marseille, for example the island of If with a fortress which used to be a prison, the Calanques National Park, and the coastal highlands of the same name, where there are impressive limestone formations from the Mesozoic era.