Located on the Mediterranean coast, the port city of Marseille is one of the most popular destinations in France. Besides the modern neighborhoods, Marseille still has an ancient and alluring charm. Take a stroll through the small streets of the Panier Quarter, enjoy the nose-scented aroma of bouillabaisse or leisurely boat ride into narrow canals called calanques ...
The legend of a romance
The port city of Marseille is the place to witness the romance story between a Phocéen adventure boy, the name Protis who loves adventure, from Greece, and Princess Gyptis, the Ligure. By chance, the Phocéen sailors arrived on the same day as the Ligure leader wanted to find a boy to marry his daughter. According to the custom of the time, after a love dance, Princess Gyptis would put a glass of wine at the foot of the mistress she wanted to choose to be her husband. And the adventurous guy Protis is lucky to be chosen. At that time, Marseille was called Massalia, later changed to Marseille.
Information about Marseille in the past has been just around the corner with rumors about dangers lurking in places where crime, violence, drugs, poverty, immigrants and mafia gangs are always in place. If you've ever seen the Taxi series, and the French Connection, the two classic mafia statuses in Marseille years ago, it's easy to imagine a city famous for evils.
However, that is only a story of the past. When you come to this port city you will be defeated by its captivating beauty. Contrary to the chilly and bleak gray of Paris, even though it was early summer, the trip to France in Marseille was full of sunshine and covered with the magical blue color of the sea and sky with a vibrant beauty. of the city and passionately watch the port city of Marseille glow in the sun like a young man full of life.
Busy roads, vast squares, colorful shops, bustling harbor with thousands of white sails high and fluttering seagulls flying, somewhere lovers exchanged passionate kiss. The sea breeze, the clouds, the ripples, the pure lavender scent blended the salty taste of the sea with the wind, which awakens every senses, every cell and every corner of the visitor's mind.
Bustling port city with its own culture
Marseille is one of Europe's oldest cities and is the second largest city in France . Quietly located on the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean region, Marseille is not a typical seaside planning city but full of charm with many angles, diverse colors and lines. artist-specific with all different levels. Once considered a terrain with many disadvantages of France, Marseille is now undergoing a spectacular change of flesh to become a thriving center of culture and economy but still retain the features.
In addition to the splendid main boulevards with luxurious old buildings, Marseille also has mossy roofs, old apartment buildings, peeling painted doorways, and walls full of graffiti art. , hidden stairs in small alleys. The city is a colorful, multi-dimensional picture filled with the scenery, sounds and scents that make your senses always work non-stop.
Where to go in the port city of Marseille?
There are so many places to visit, so much to see when traveling to France in Marseille. The white limestone mountains, open space, sunshine, blue sea and wind, all create a harmonious, charming, blue Marseille and is a great destination for tourists in general and the art followers, photographers in particular.
First of all, Marseille must mention the Vieux Port, the heart of the city. Today, Vieux Port is no longer an industrial port but has become a busy port for tourists and locals.
On Sundays, the harbor becomes even more bustling because it is also the occasion of open markets with all kinds of goods. Vieux Port is dazzling in the colors of lovely souvenir stalls, sweet macarons, and shelves displaying handmade soap soaps with aromatic scents mixed with bundles Purple lavender lavender radiates the fragrance in the wind.
Vieux Port is always brilliant with white boats moored
On the other side, close to the bow of the boat, the fishermen are selling fresh fish in juicy stories and I realize, it seems that both the seller and the buyer prefer chatting over buying and selling. After all, it is also part of the Marseillaise's personality, always cheerful, liberal and open as the wind and the sea here. Coming here, you will be fascinated and want to spend the whole day wandering and counting every white sail moored high in the blue sky.
Calanques in the beautiful port city of Marseille is beyond description. Here you can admire the exotic blue of the Mediterranean sea surrounded by white cliffs. When the sun rises, the peaceful bay reflects sparkling afternoon light and sometimes a few canoes glide along with long white streaks to make the sky and sea picture more and more splendid and magical.
Only 45 minutes drive from Marseille is another Calanques called Calanques de Cassis surrounding a small and beautiful fishing village famous for its delicious oysters and fish soup, infatuated with the sun with the wind, with a charming beauty that nature has bestowed on this place.
Half of the area in the port city of Marseille is a natural forest area, also a treasure of the city and carefully preserved. There are many different varieties of trees, and planting pine trees to get plastic. Along the sides of the city there are many fjords, seaports and small beaches. The most popular attractions are Catalans Bay, Auffe, Goude, with a series of bustling restaurants, Midi specialties and upscale beaches. The city also has a horse racing course, botanical garden, Borely park, modern art museum and Velodrome stadium.
Following the GR 98 trail, visitors will discover the huge mountain of Marseilleveyre, nestled among the limestone ranges dotted in pine forests, all year round to catch the wind blowing along the Rhône river. The trail becomes wider as you approach the Marseilleveyre rock, where you can stop to sip a cup of black coffee, drink wine or enjoy a delicious salad with wine at an open-air restaurant under the mountains. .
Great cuisine in Marseille
The port city of Marseille has a rich cuisine but the most outstanding is still a traditional fish soup called " Bouillabaisse ". At first, Bouillabaisse was a seafood soup of poor fishermen but over time it has been the symbol of Marseille and present in most luxury restaurants in France.
The big difference between Bouillabaisse and conventional fish soups is the sweetness of the freshest fish prepared with the rich aroma of spices. The saffron's white and golden fish flesh works together harmoniously in an elegant soup made from aromatic white wine. Each place has a unique flavor and to me, fish soup as a small part of Marseille will surely remain forever in the memory.
Although not as magnificent as Paris, the port city of Marseille still has a very unique style, both dynamic and peaceful, poetic. A trip to Marseille will surely save many memorable visitors.
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