Treasure by the Sea ~ Marseille, France

Una Baker | August 2, 2019

Marseille, France

As I prepare for my big “60” birthday celebration which I hope will never end, I find myself digging deep into France I have never explored. Friends coming to celebrate my birthday in Paris were looking for a 3 day excursion possibly by water. As I started researching, I came across Marseille. I am so intrigued and desperately to want to spend some time there. It is a port city located in the southern part of France. The core of the city is the Vieux-Port (Old Port), where fishmongers sell their catch of the day. Marseille was originally founded 600 BC as a Greek colony of Massalia and populated by settlers from Turkey. Click for a little more history from Wikipedia.

Today, there are so many modern chefs who write about the multicultural cuisine one can explore in Marseille. I so look forward to visiting!

Le MUCEM de Marseille

Marseille is a main destination for Air Corsica with direct flights throughout the year from the four Corsican airports Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari. With various flight rotation in the summer as in the winter, you have many opportunity to discover Marseille and its relevant museum.

The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilization is an architectural jewel located at the entrance to the port between sky and sea. This wonderful building facing the open sea is covered with concrete lace.

As the first large national museum dedicated to the Mediterranean civilizations, it aims at showing the origins of this civilization basin that has been so rich and active, the opening dates back to June 2013.

Situated at the entrance of the harbor, location J4 in the Saint Jean fort, a highly symbolic place of the current evolution of the city and of its history, the museum extends over about 45000 square meters, divided into three places. Indeed, the different museum collections are preserved at once at la Belle de Mai and at the same time at the Centre de Conservation et de Ressources.

For your cultural outings with your family, the MUCEM offers you, for kids, an electronic tablet equipped with edutainment computer application « Kidouki » inviting young and old alike on a treasure hunt in the different rooms.

In both summer and winter, fly away with Air Corsica to a cultural destination with your family and discover Marseille and its Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilization.

Cassis – Marseille

Cassis is known for its pristine beaches, running trails and vineyards. Here is a article about the upcoming 20 KM in October, 2019.

Notre-Dame de la Garde (literally: Our Lady of the Guard) is a Catholic basilica in Marseille, France, and the city’s best-known symbol. The site of a popular Assumption Day pilgrimage, it was the most visited site in Marseille. It was built on the foundations of an ancient fort at the highest natural point in Marseille, a 149 m (489 ft) limestone outcropping on the south side of the Old Port of Marseille.

Construction of the basilica began in 1852 and lasted for 21 years. It was originally an enlargement of a medieval chapel, but was transformed into a new structure at the request of Father Bernard, the chaplain. The plans were made and developed by the architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu. It was consecrated while still unfinished on June 5, 1864.

The basilica consists of a lower church or crypt in the Romanesque style, carved from the rock, and an upper church of Neo-Byzantine style decorated with mosaics. A square 41 m (135 ft) bell tower topped by a 12.5 m (41 ft) belfry supports a monumental 11.2 m (37 ft) statue of the Madonna and Child made of copper gilded with gold leaf.

An extensive restoration from 2001 to 2008 included work on mosaics damaged by candle smoke, green limestone from Gonfolina which had been corroded by pollution, and stonework that had been hit by bullets during the Liberation of France. The restoration of the mosaics was entrusted to Marseille artist Michel Patrizio, whose workmen were trained in Friuli, north of Venice, Italy. The tiles were supplied by the workshop in Venice which had made the originals.

(From Wikipedia)

Calanque, Marseille

The Massif des Calanques is a wild and rugged terrain between the ninth arrondissement of Marseille to the east towards Cassis. The area has been designated a national park. It is known for the beautiful sea, hiking and biking. Definitely for those that are up for a physical adventure.