Our first visit to Marseille
Recently, we decided on a whim to take a weekend trip to Marseille, France. Off we went on a Friday night into the pitch black of darkness and what seemed like the heaviest rain system that France has had in ages! Nevertheless we made it without much issue.
On Saturday, the weather was absolutely beautiful and there was no rain in sight. We started our day off with a little walk down to a little beach we found before having a lovely brunch at a restaurant overlooking the water. Good companionship and delicious food while watching the waves crash against the rocks below us-who could ask for more than that?
After brunch, we decided to walk instead of taking the bus back the way we had come. This is always one of my favorite parts of traveling, because you never know what you’ll find. This time, we found a park complete with a palace! The Palais du Pharo was built in 1858 by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie. It did not seem to be open to the public, but it was still cool to see anyway.
We followed the paths through the park, going nowhere in particular and enjoying the beautiful view of the Mediterranean! It’s a great spot to get a good view of Tour du Fanal and the surrounding area.
Eventually, we wandered back towards the Vieux Port down Quai de Rieve Neuve, a lovely area with many shops and restaurants on one side and the Port on the other. The whole area around the port is just a fun place, filled with music, people, and food!
The Le Panier district, Marseilles oldest neighborhood, is just a stone’s throw away from the Vieux Port. It has a very cool, artsy vibe and is a must-see if you are going to Marseille! I also loved the fact that there were plants everywhere.
Walking back towards Vieux Port, you pass L’Eglise Saint Laurent and can get a great view of the Notre Dame de La Garde, which overlooks Marseille. That, in fact, is where we headed to after lunch!
You can choose to walk up to La Garde or you can take public transportation. We opted to walk (take note: it’s a steep, steep hike that never ends!) but the view alone is worth it. Unfortunately the inside was closed due to an event, but we enjoyed walking around the outside despite the 60 mph winds.
If you look closely, you can see damage from the liberation of Marseille in WWII.
On our hike back down the hill, we stopped by the Abbaye Saint-Victor, a former Abbey that was founded in the late Roman period. I will never get over the beauty of these old buildings!
After a rest (our feet were feeling it), we headed off to dinner at Le Relais 50. We enjoyed drinks and a lovely meal out on the terrace. The weather was perfect!
While our time in Marseille was short, we had a great weekend and would love to go back to explore the area further. There is so much more to see!
Next stop: Ajaccio, Corsica!