Small Boutique hotels in MARSEILLE

The grand Old Port of Marseille gives character to this city in the south of France, the second largest in the country. Oriented around the Mediterranean Sea since the ancient times, the maritime pulse of the city beats in the vital promenade with shops and restaurants, and the Quai de la Fraternité, where every morning the fishermen sell fresh fish, fresh from the sea.

Anchored on the hillside, the old neighborhood of Le Panier, with charming Provencal facades, is experiencing a rediscovery. The splendid La Major Cathedral stands out as an example of the scarce Byzantine style in France. The medieval abbey of San Victor is another milestone.

The Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean, MuCEM, occupies an old 17th-century fortress as well as an impressive contemporary building, an openwork black cube. They are connected to each other by a new iron bridge. To the south of the port, in the neighborhood of Saint Victor, is a collection of small factories where they produce and sell the traditional Marseille soap.

A short boat ride brings you closer to the Frioul archipelago. There stands the 16th-century Castle of If, immortalized by Alejandro Dumas in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Enjoy the surrounding beaches protected by wonderful cliffs, in the Les Calanques massif.