A stroll through the Noailles district

Take a free tour of the Noailles district, also known as the belly of Marseille.

Noailles is made up of narrow streets where Marseillais come to stock up on spices, condiments, flavors and fragrances of all kinds! You'll find ingredients from all over the world. Exoticism guaranteed.

The discovery of the Noailles district begins on the Cours Saint-Louis (2), Marseille's "ground zero". Since 1927, it's here, precisely at the corner of the Canebière and Cours Belsunce, that the numbering of buildings along all the city's streets has been determined. It's also kilometer zero for measuring the distance between Marseille and other French cities.

Cours Saint-Louis extends into rue de Rome.

Turn left into rue Méolan, where you'll find the famous shop founded by Père Blaize (3). At the end of the street, turn right onto rue d'Aubagne. At the next street, turn right again onto rue Vacon.

On your left is rue Halle Delacroix, with its outstanding exotic goods merchants, such as Tam-Ky.

Cross the square to reach rue Rouvière and continue up it to the left.

Turn left down rue d'Aubagne to the crossroads with rue Longue des Capucins. This is where you'll find Saladin's cave of 1,000 spices (5).

Continue straight on to the district's only fishmonger, du Lamparo, at the corner of Marché des Capucins and Marché de Noailles.

Turn left down Rue des Feuillants onto La Canebière (1).

Walk down the Canebière, then turn left into rue des Récolettes, where you'll discover another of the city's outstanding shops: the "Empereur" hardware store (8). Take time to explore this store, which is approaching 100 years of existence. There's a beautiful section of antique toys upstairs. As you leave the store, the neon sign of the Cours Saint-Louis pharmacy will lead you back to the starting point of this tour.