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Discover Marseille at HOTEL VICTORY

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Welcome to Marseille's first arrondissement, a vibrant and historic district full of Mediterranean charm. During your stay at HOTEL VICTORY, explore local cultural treasures such as the Old Port, just a few minutes' walk away, where you can admire traditional fishing boats and savor fresh seafood. Don't miss the lively fish market with its vibrant colors. Nearby, the Panier district will welcome y...See more

Walking around HOTEL VICTORY

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Accessible hikes near HOTEL VICTORY.
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Stroll along the south shore of the Old Port
469 m

Stroll along the south shore of the Old Port

This easy walking tour combines beautiful facades along the streets with panoramic views and grand monuments. The route is suitable for strollers. * The itinerary begins on the Canebière, a mythical and historic artery, lined with majestic facades, which in its heyday was home to grand hotels and the most beautiful cafés in Marseille. At number 9 is the Palais de la Bourse, the chamber of commerce and industry. Rue Beauvau leads to the Opera House. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1919, hence its Art Deco facade. At the back of the building. * Turn right onto rue Francis Davso which leads to the Cours Estienne d'Orves. A real city within the city, the Arcenaulx were the former warehouses of the arsenal of the royal galleys at the time of Louis XIV. Today, this Italian-style square is an attractive district with its cafés, restaurants and artists' galleries. * Parallel to this is the Rue Sainte, which leads to the Abbaye Saint-Victor, join it. Stop at the Four des Navettes, the oldest bakery in Marseille (1781) where you can taste the navettes, a dry orange blossom cookie typical of Marseille and very popular with gourmets. To the right of the Bertie Albrecht square, enjoy the panoramic view of the Old Port and the old city. * Then head for Fort Saint-Nicolas (17th century), the work of the Chevalier de Clerville. During the construction of the Palais du Pharo, the fort was cut in two, in order to create an access road and that is why today, Fort Saint-Nicolas is composed of Fort d'Entrecasteaux for the upper part and Fort Ganteaume for the lower part. * When you arrive in front of the gates of the Palais du Pharo, cross the public garden which offers other magnificent views of Marseille.

45 min
2.5 km
Very easy
11 La Canebière 13001 Marseille
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A stroll through 19th-century Marseille
473 m

A stroll through 19th-century Marseille

This urban walk starts on the Canebière: it will lead you to the Palais Longchamp and its monumental fountain. The route follows the Cours Saint Louis, the "Petit Cours" which takes its name from Louis d'Anjou. This is where the first santon fair was held in 1803. Then we enter the Noailles district. In a colorful effervescence, dive into the Mediterranean cultures and discover the different stalls. Once you have crossed the boulevard Garibaldi, you reach the rue du Théâtre Français. Italian style theater and baptized for a time "French theater" to mark its vocation dedicated to the French literature. Then you reach the upper part of the Canebière again. There we find a self-service book terminal in the shape of a giraffe to pay homage to the famous Zarafa, evoked in the urban stroll that leads to the Prefecture and the Monument aux Mobiles which celebrates the soldiers of the Garde Mobile of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. At the very end of the Canebière, you find yourself facing the Saint-Vincent de Paul church, nicknamed "les Réformés" because it is located on the site of the chapel of the Augustins Réformés. Its 2 spires rise 70 meters above the Canebière. As you walk up the majestic avenue of plane trees on boulevard Longchamp, you will see on your right the mansion that houses the Grobet-Labadie museum. To end this urban stroll, you can discover the Palais Longchamp which was built to celebrate the arrival of the waters of the Durance in Marseille. Discover also its museums and its English garden.

1 h
2.3 km
Very easy
Départ Office Métropolitain de Tourisme et des Congrès 11 La Canebière 13001 Marseille
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"Cool Noons" freshness trail: from the Old Port to the Marina Olympique
689 m

"Cool Noons" freshness trail: from the Old Port to the Marina Olympique

This urban walk, conceived as part of the European Cool Noons project, starts on the Quai des Belges under the shade of the Old Port. It takes you all the way to the Olympic Marina. The Cool Noons project is a European project under the Interreg Euro-MED program (sustainable tourism), the main aim of which is to improve the visitor experience for tourists and residents of Mediterranean urban areas during the hottest hours of the day. By summer 2024, the project aims to offer routes that, wherever possible, include passages through shaded and/or ventilated streets, through existing cool spots where it is possible to refresh oneself, and close to free drinking water points. Leaving Norman Foster's shade on the Old Port (1), walk along the Quai de Rive-Neuve. Turn left into rue Fortia, cross Cours Estienne d'Orves, a large Italian-style square (2), then join rue Emile Pollak to Cours Pierre Puget, skirting the Palais de Justice (3). Turn right up Cours Pierre Puget and pause in front of the entrance to the Colline Puget garden (4). Follow the winding path through the park until you reach the Sépia restaurant. On the left, there's an exit over a small bridge and a staircase leading to rue des Lices. As its name suggests, this is an ancient rampart wall that marked the boundary of the city of Marseille in the 17th century. Cross the small square planted with magnolias and a palm tree to reach rue d'Endoume. Join the grand avenue de la Corse, where hackberry and plane trees provide shade until you reach the junction with the Place du 4 septembre, its hackberry trees and avenue Pasteur. Rue Girardin, which joins the end of Avenue de la Corse, leads to Plage des Catalans (5), dominated by the Lazaret tower. This beach is ideal for a refreshing swim. Its waters are also home to the Musée Subaquatique de Marseille (6), which can be explored by simply taking a few dips in the water with a mask and snorkel. Then, for almost 5 km, the route follows a structuring coastal axis that links districts such as the Vieux-Port, Les Catalans and Malmousque along the seafront. The route follows a single artery all the way to the Olympic Marina: the famous Corniche Kennedy (7), where you'll find, in order : - The Monument de l'Armée aux Morts de l'Armée d'Orient (8) - Vallon des Auffes (9) - Le Marégraphe (10) - Villa Valmer Park (11 and 12) - La Plage du Prophète (13) - Memorial des rapatriés aka, l'hélice de César (14) - Olympic Marina (15) And let's not forget the many "follies" - villas and bastides built in the mid-19th century that dominate the Corniche from the hills of the Bompard and Roucas Blanc districts. We've already mentioned Villa Valmer, where the architect drew inspiration from the Renaissance style. This style is also to be found at Château Berger (now Promicea), which bears some similarities (albeit on a much smaller scale) to the Château de Chambord, with its slate roof and bell towers. But there are others to be found behind the vegetation. We're well aware that the walk from the Catalans beach to the marina can be a bit strenuous, as there's no real opportunity to walk regularly in the shade on this stretch of the Corniche. That's why we recommend bus line 83, which runs very frequently in summer, and whose vehicles are air-conditioned. There are numerous stops along the Corniche, including "Catalans" and "Chemin du Roucas Blanc". The terminus of line 83 is at the Prado traffic circle, where several bus lines pass through to provide access to Place Castellane and the Mazargues district. There is also access to metro line 2.

2 h
6.9 km
Very easy
Quai des Belges 13001 Marseille
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Cool Noons" tour : from the Mucem to the Palais Longchamp
1.6 km

Cool Noons" tour : from the Mucem to the Palais Longchamp

This urban walk, conceived as part of the European Cool Noons project, starts on the Mucem forecourt. It takes you to the Palais Longchamp and its monumental fountain. The Cool Noons project is a European project under the Interreg Euro-MED program (sustainable tourism), the main aim of which is to improve the visitor experience for tourists and residents of Mediterranean urban areas during the hottest hours of the day. By summer 2024, the project aims to offer routes that, wherever possible, include passages through shaded and/or ventilated streets, through existing cool spots where it is possible to refresh oneself, and close to free drinking water points. From the Mucem (1), walk along the Promenade Robert Laffont around the Villa Méditerranée (2). Then skirt Fort Saint-Jean (3) along the seafront and Promenade Louis Brauquier until you reach two twin buildings, the former sanitary lockers (4). Cross the Quai du Port and follow the Avenue de Saint-Jean up to Rue Caisserie. After passing the bell tower of the Notre Dame des Accoules church (5), stop under the shade of the plane trees to admire the various buildings: the former Palais de Justice (6), the former Hôtel Dieu converted into a luxury hotel, the esplanade Bargemon (7) and, in the distance, the Old Port with the city's emblematic symbol: Notre-Dame de la Garde. Return to the Grand' rue, where you'll pass one of the city's oldest buildings: the Hôtel de Cabre (8). Continue straight ahead, crossing Rue de la République to reach the entrance to the ancient port (9). Two options: -- Turn left around the ancient port, also known as the Jardin des Vestiges, or -- turn right through the air-conditioned shopping mall of the Centre-Bourse [open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7.30pm] to reach the Cours Belsunce (10). From Cours Belsunce, head towards La Canebière (11) to turn into Rue des Récolettes, which continues into Rue d'Aubagne. You'll pass through the colorful Noailles shopping district. At the end of rue d'Aubagne, take the large staircase on your left, which leads to Cours Julien (12), a large, lively square planted with ponds. You'll then arrive in the festive La Plaine district, and take a section of Place Jean-Jaurès (13). Turn left into rue Curiol, then rue de la Bibliothèque, and right into the very pleasant rue Sénac de Meilhan, which has little traffic and is planted with trees and shrubs by local residents. At the bottom of the street, you'll reach the upper part of the Canebière. You'll pass the book milestone that pays tribute to the giraffe Zarafa, who arrived in Marseille, France, by boat and then made her way to Paris by walking with her friendly guardians! After all, it was a royal gift. Then there's the bandstand (14), the Monument aux Mobiles, which pays tribute to the soldiers who died in the 1870 war. And at the very end of the Canebière, you'll find yourself facing the church of Saint-Vincent de Paul (15), nicknamed "les Réformés". Follow the tramway as it winds around the Danaïdes fountain (16) and up the majestic avenue of plane trees on boulevard Longchamp. To round off this urban stroll, discover the Palais Longchamp (17), its museums and tree-lined park, built to celebrate the arrival of the waters of the Durance in Marseille.

2 h
4.2 km
Very easy
Mucem 7 Promenade Robert Laffont 13002 Marseille
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A stroll through Marseille's new districts
1.7 km

A stroll through Marseille's new districts

Discover the many emblematic architectural elements that shape today's urban panorama, particularly in the Joliette district. (1) The esplanade, which marks the starting point, takes its name from a former port area that housed the J4 hangar. Today it is home to the Mucem (2) and the Villa Méditerranée, two museum spaces inaugurated in 2013 when the city was European Capital of Culture. Since June 2022, the Villa Méditerranée (4) has housed a reproduction of the Cosquer cave, a prehistoric site found at a depth of 37 meters by a local diver, Henri Cosquer. A third site completes the cultural offering: the Musée Regards de Provence (8), a former 20th-century sanitary locker. Then we arrive at the monumental Cathedral de la Major (9). Below it are the Voûtes, a real link between the old town, the Panier district and the new waterfront, where you'll find places to relax and shop. Continuing on, the urban stroll leads to the historic Docks building (21) and the Terrasses du Port shopping center (14). Level 2 of this shopping mall boasts a 260-metre-long terrace offering a panoramic 180-degree view of the sea. The itinerary continues towards Cepac Silo (15), a former grain silo transformed into a concert hall. Step inside to admire the udder room. Continue along the CMA-CGM tower (145 m high) (16) to the Archives Départementales (18). The FRAC (24), with its pixelated glass facade reminiscent of a Paco Rabanne dress with sequins, when in fact it's more a question of opening up the structure to a space of subdued light in the Japanese tradition, brings this urban ramble to a close.

2 h
3.6 km
Very easy
Le point de départ de cette balade urbaine est situé devant l'entrée principale du Mucem Esplanade J4, au bout de la promenade Robert Laffont 13002 Marseille
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What to do in HOTEL VICTORY

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Organize your days in HOTEL VICTORY with bookable activities for the whole family.
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Marseilles Pass: Museums, Activities, Transport All Inclusive
473 m

Marseilles Pass: Museums, Activities, Transport All Inclusive

Discover all the must see places in Marseilles with this all inclusive pass. Enjoy free entry to a number of museums and attractions, as well as all public transport in Marseilles! Take advantage of discounts on a number of activities! MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY IN MARSEILLES WITH THIS ALL INCLUSIVE PASS! For a period of 24, 48 or even 72 consecutive hours, enjoy free entry to more than 10 museums and free access to all public transport in Marseilles. Take advantage of discounts on numerous tours and museums with this pass! In addition, the Marseilles Pass will enable you to jump the queues. MUSEUMS: MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) Museum of African, South Seas and American Indian Arts Mediterranean Archeology Museum Maritime and Commercial Museum Cantini Museum Roman Docks Museum Natural History Museum Marseilles Local History Museum Grobet-Labadié Museum Muesum of Decorative Arts and Fashion – Borély History Museum MAC Contemporary Gallery TRIPS AND TOURS: Whether you’re with your family or friends, you will enjoy all the city tours included in the pass: Château d’If, small tourist train (with queue jump, during crowded periods), boat tour, etc. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Use your ticket included in the Marseilles Pass and start to explore the city. Free and unlimited access to all types of public transport (bus, tramways, city shuttles and metros) for the whole duration of your pass. DISCOUNTS AND FREEBIES: Make the most of a number of discounts, freebies and free samples in some of the best restaurants and cafés, as well as in certain shops and attractions. You will be fascinated by the wealth and activities on offer in the magnificent city of Marseilles! Discover all the secrets of the Phocaean city!  

rue de La Canebière 13001 Marseille
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Cruise the Rocky Coves and Tour Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence
1.3 km

Cruise the Rocky Coves and Tour Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence

Discover the most beautiful sights of the Provencal coast in just one day! The offer includes: a tour of Marseilles, a cruise of the rocky coves and a tour of Aix-en-Provence!  LEAVE MARSEILLES AND VISIT AIX-EN-PROVENCE!  Discover the Cours Mirabeau, a large avenue shaded by trees in the heart of the town which is home to magnificent houses dating back to the 17th and 18th century!  Throughout the tour, your driver/tour guide will tell you everything you need to know about how the city became the capital of art and culture! From Picasso to Cezanne, they have all been captivated by the charm and the beauty of this roman city which has today become the cultural centre of Provence!  Visit the Cezanne Studio which is the last place where the artist drew his masterpieces. Enjoy some free time to have lunch, we suggest that you bring a sandwich or a picnic. You will then travel to Cap Canaille, an impressive cliff overlooking the sea, before reaching Cassis an ancient fishing port which today is one of the most beautiful villages in France! Climb onboard a boat for a 45 minutes cruise of three rocky coves!  You will be able to admire the creeks, the small ports and the beaches hidden in the landscape! Return to Marseilles for an observational tour of the city! Stop at the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica and make the most of an incredible view of the Frioul islands and the Château d’If! Continue along the Corniche road to reach the Saint Victor Abbey and the medieval castles which overlook the Old Port of Marseilles! You will be amazed by the unique beauty and picturesque charm of la Provence, the land of character!

Quai Rive Neuve 13007 Marseille
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Day Trip to Arles, Les Baux et Saint Rémy de Provence
1.3 km

Day Trip to Arles, Les Baux et Saint Rémy de Provence

Discover the most beautiful places of la Provence and the rich heritage! Make the most of this half-day trip by tasting and unravelling the secrets of the production of olive oil! AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TOUR, ENJOY STUNNING VIEWS AS YOU TRAVEL BY MINIBUS PAST THE ALPILLES MOUNTAINS UNTIL YOU REACH THE HEART OF THE REMOTE COUNTRYSIDE! Drive through the Crau Plain and admire the steppes and the pebbled landscape which stretches as far as the eye can see! Then head towards the Grand Rhône embankment before reaching Arles which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are numerous roman ruins scattered throughout Arles, therefore it is not a surprise that the region inspired the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh. Discover the arenas, the Amphitheatre, the famous Saint-Trophime church, the Forum, the summer garden, the café and Van Gogh’s courtyard. Enjoy some free time in the wonderful village of Baux de Provence where you will be able to stop for lunch. Then unravel the secrets of the production of olive oil! Visit the magnificent property and taste the olive oil! The last stop of the tour will be Saint Rémy de Provence! You will be able to stop and take photos of the famous “plateau des antiques,” a protected natural site. You do not want to miss the arc de triomphe and the Roman mausoleum. At the end of the day you will be driven back to Marseilles. You will be astounded by the great beauty and the rich heritage of la Provence!

Quai Rive neuve 13007 Marseille
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What to visit in HOTEL VICTORY

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Learn the history of HOTEL VICTORY through its museums.
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La Canebière
194 m

La Canebière

The Canebière was built in 1666 when Louis XIV gave instructions for the city to be increased in size. The name comes from the Provençal "Canebe" (hemp) and is a reminder of the rope-makers that lived in Marseille from the Middles Ages onwards. Only when the Grand Arsenal (shipbuilding dock) was demolished at the end of the 18th Century was the Canebière extended down to the port and fine buildings put up. A little further on was the narrow Noailles street and beyond it, outside the walls, lay the Allées de Meilhan that provided the people of Marseille with a tree-lined walk that took them past open-air cafés and dance-halls. The Canebière was only officially extended from the Old Port to the Réformés church in 1928, thus including Noailles street and the allées de Meilhan. The Second Empire (1852-1870) and colonial expansion were responsible for major changes in the city: new thoroughfares were opened, elegant buildings were constructed and a new port built. The Canebière enjoyed its heyday during the Third Republic (1871-1940) when intense intellectual and business activity was omnipresent in the cafés, high-class hotels and shops. The Canebière became known throughout the world and was very quickly adopted as the symbol of Marseille and its port. Certain buildings are now classified as National Heritage Sites. The larger hotels and cafés on the Canebière closed after the French colonies gained their independence. The Canebière has recently become central to a number of long-term rehabilitation projects for the city centre and is to some extent reliving its past glory with the marseillais, as the town's inhabitants are known, enthusiastically opening new hotels and shops. The turkish cafe One of the first cafés set up on the Canebière is the café alla turca, from 1850 an inevitable passage for travellers to the Orient. An oriental lounge openend onto to the street Prince de Beauvau. A monumental fountain, topped by a four-faced clock, sat imposingly in the centre of the main hall, that gave onto the Canebière. It symbolized the open relationship of Marseille with other cultures and showed the Turkish, Chinese, Arabic and European time. Its sumptuous décor and its atmosphere were often evoked in literature. The café alla turca disappeaed just after the first world war. The Beauvau street, which bears the name of a governor of Provence, was opened in 1785 on the land of the Arsenal des Galères (galley arsenal). It was one of the first streets of Marseille made with pavements. Please note Hôtel Beauvau at no. 4 where Lamartine stayed in 1832 as well as Georges Sand and Frédéric Chopin in 1835. The Opera House The inhabitants of Marseille have always been theatre and opera fans. Several theatres were in fact built in various parts of the city to meet this local demand. But they had to wait for the sale of the land of the Arsenal des Galères in 1781 to allow the construction of the Grand Théâtre (one of the clauses of the bill of sale stipulated the obligation to construct an opera on the principle of perpetuity). The whole of the land was sold by the Ministère de la Marine to the city who sold it three years later to a company run by Rapalli from Genoa. He started constructing blocks of flats which resulted in extraordinary price explosions. The whole quarter is then organized around this vast plot of land and the streets are dedicated to theatre and music (Corneille, Molière, Lulli, etc) as well as to the high representatives of royalty in Provence. The Grand Théâtre, opened in 1787, was the work of the architect Benard. He designed it in a neo-classical style as a temple of music and dance. In 1919, a fire completely destroyed the theatre and the stage only the main walls, the Ionic colonnade and the main front in freestone were saved. The arcitect Gaston Castel, associated with Raymond Ebrard, was chosen to rebuild the Opera from 1921 to 1924 in art deco style. It was the idea of Castel to open this building site to a large number of creative artists and technicians of all areas : painting, sculpture, mosaic and wrought iron. On the front can be seen the four allegories of Sartorius as well as the phrase written on the upper cornice : « Art receives beauty from Aphrodite, rhythm from Apollo, balance from Pallas and owes movement and life to Dionysos ». Inside, in the theatre, please note the stage setting « La naissance de la Beauté » by Antoine Bourdelle, in red stucco on a gold background in the main foyer, two superb Sèvres vases especially designed for this vast space and the ceiling decoration by Carrera illustrating the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in bright colours. The originality of the building lies in the successful mixture of 18th century neo-classical style and 20th century art deco style. Hôtel du Louvre et de la Paix. One of the finest realizations is without doubt the former Hotel du Louvre et de la Paix of the architect Pot, today occupied by the C&A store. The front offers a monumental entrance to visitors framed by four opulent caryatids representing the four continents (Europe, Asia, America and Africa). This luxury category hotel had 250 rooms, 20 salons and 2 restaurant rooms. It was open until 1941, when it was requisitioned and bought by the French Navy, then occupied by the German Kriegsmarine. After the war, the Navy returned, installed offices and used the reception rooms for official events and the officer s mess up to 1977. The decoration had remained the same since the Second Empire. In 1980, after 3 years of neglect and damage, the building was sold. The architects only kept the fronts, the stairs and and the two salons which were listed as historic buildings. In 1984, the C&A store opened. Inside, on the left, the stairs can still be seen and at the back of the store ordinary doors hide these two magnificents salons, representing the luxurious era of the Hôtel du Louvre et de la Paix. Projects are currently being studied to try to restore and give new life to this place, a symbol of the commercial power of Marseille in the 19th century. As indicated by a plaque on the front, the first film show of the Lumière brothers in Marseille, "the arrival at La Ciotat railway station", took place in this hotel in 1896. L’hôtel de Noailles. It was designed by the architect Berengier in 1865. This very fine building, much more sober than the Hotel du Louvre et de la Paix, has a central front topped by a triangular pediment. The front shows an alternate rhythm of triangular and curved pediments. It used to be a very luxurious hotel and until 1979, very important persons, artists or politicians, stayed at the Noailles. All hotels of Rue Noailles were so famous that a special daily column was dedicated to them in the newspaper. Today the Noailles building has been transformed into office premises, but it still remains a prestige address. Les allées de Meilhan. The Allées de Meilhan are the last part of our Canebière. The expansion of 1666 planned to create a public esplanade outside the city walls. This work was only finished in 1775 thanks to the Provence Intendant, Sénac de Meilhan. This avenue was famous for its open-air cafés where young people came to enjoy themselves and to dance. The style of the buildings is very different from La Canebière and Rue Noailles most of them are from the end of the 18th century. Here the Marseille "three-window" type can be found, like on Boulevard Longchamp further along. Every year between 1886 and 2005, the " santons fair " takes place on this part of La Canebière. Since 2005, the " santons fair " is based on the Cours d'Estienne d'Orves. The music pavilion. The iron music pavilion replaced a older wooden pavilion in 1911. A Wallace fountain, which can also be found in the Parc Longchamp, was installed here in the 1930s. The monument aux Mobilisés. The Monument aux Mobilisés was erected here in 1894 to commemorate the soldiers of Marseille who fell in the 1870 war. You can see "France Armée" and at her feet the valiant soldiers. The Monument aux Mobilisés is the departure point for demonstrations which go down La Canebière towards the Old Port, and then often continue towards the Town Hall or the Prefecture according to the nature of the grievances! But here processions also start, for 14 July or for the carnival when the heros of the day proudly rejoice on La Canebière, applauded by the crowd which is always ready to celebrate. Saint Paul-Saint Vincent church, The Réformés In the 14th century, the hermits of Saint Augustinian established themselves on the site of the Saint Ferréol church, situated on the Old Port. In the 16th century, their cult was reorganized and the Augustinians Déchaux built another monastery above La Canebière. During the Revolution, the monks were dispersed. In 1803, a new parish was created in this quarter because of its increasing population. A priest of the Mission, a congregation founded in 1625 by Saint Vincent de Paul became the first priest of this quarter. The construction of the new church in a neo-gothic style followed the plan of the architect Reybaud. The church was consecrated in 1888. In 1989, the ASPRA association was created to save the building. Finally, in 1998,a set of four bells was placed in one of the two spires. Their height, 69 metres above the floor of the crypta, gives some idea of the imposing dimensions of the church. Inside, you can see the stained-glass windows by Didron, which evoke the main scenes of the bible and the saints of Provence, the baptismal fonts, the main altar of marble, lapis-lazuli, onyx, gilt bronze with enamels, the pulpit of sculptured wood, the marble altar made in 1999 from the former communion table and the Christ of the Holy Shroud of the Marseille sculptor Botinelly.

13001 Marseille
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Le cours Belsunce et le cours Saint-Louis
353 m

Le cours Belsunce et le cours Saint-Louis

The crossroads of Cours Belsunce and Cours Saint-Louis are the zero point of the city. All distances between Marseille and the other cities of France are measured from this point. In the 17th century, following the example of Aix-en-Provence, Marseille decided to open the esplanade which was the favourite walk of the inhabitants of Marseille. On this Cours, later called Belsunce in the memory of the bishop of Marseille who became famous during the Great Plague of 1720, the Foire à l’Ail et aux Taraïettes (Garlic and earthenware fair) is held every year from 15 June to 14 July. When crossing Cours Belsunce you can see on the left the Arc de Triomphe of the Place d’Aix erected in 1839 by the architect Penchaud. During the expansion of the city in 1666, the opening of the Porte Royale (the future Porte d’Aix) gave Marseille a wider entrance for passenger and goods traffic between France, Marseille and the Orient. On the other side is Cours Saint-Louis, where the 18 cast iron kiosks of the flower sellers were installed. From 1847 to 1968 their colourful stalls delighted the passers-by and the artists of the Alcazar always bought a rose to bring luck before going on stage. On the right you can see Castellane fountain, located on the Porte d’Aix -Obelisk line, one of the longest perspectives of Europe. The Alcazar. This famous music hall, opened in 1857, brought many artists on the stage. Great names of singers like Rellys, Dario Moréno, Yves Montand, Henry Salvador, Sacha Distel and even Johnny Halliday made their first nervous appearances here, in front of the highly critical Marseille audience! The Alcazar closed in 1966, and the wooden awning survived the years in more or less good shape. It will come to life again thanks to the Bibliothèque Municipale à Vocation Régionale (BMVR) of the architect Adrien Fainsilber (he designed the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie of Paris). This library fulfils the basic functions of a large institution for public reading, study and research and also for the conservation of the heritage collections. The departments are open for all publics and the library does not only cover the Marseille metropolitan area, but also the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Due to its location in the very heart of the city, it is part of the renovation of the city centre with the advantage of public transport and car parks. Since 2004, the site is home to the Regional City Library (BMVR), designed by the architects Adrien Fainsilber and Didier Rougeon.

13001 Marseille
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The palais Longchamp
1.1 km

The palais Longchamp

The boulevard Longchamp. This boulevard with its plane trees was created by an association of owners who, after having left it to the city to open the boulevard in the 1830s, built apartment buildings and private mansions. The boulevard Longchamp with its plane trees was created by an owners association. They let the city open the boulevard in the 1830s and then built apartment buildings for rent and private mansions. This was an immediate success, and soon a quarter with a very homogenic architectural style developed. Here can be found the typical " three-window " building, a design often repeated in several quarters of Marseille. The observatory, the oldest scientific establishement of Marseille, will soon celebrate its 300th birthday. Before the transformation of the Longchamp plateau, it was installed in the Accoules quarter, in the old part of Marseille in the Collège de Sainte-Croix, where it was created in 1702 by the Jesuits by royal order. The observatory is attached to the Ministry of National Education and the CNRS research organization. Today it is a processing centre for data obtained from the largest telescopes of the world and from sclale space experiments, and also a laboratory for the development of instruments. The main research themes are at present aimed at the study of galaxies and interstellar environment. Since January 2000, the observatory has expanded by becoming, together with the Laboratoire d'Astronomie Spatiale at Trois Lucs in Marseille and the Observatoire de Haute Provence, the Observatoire Astronomique Marseille Provence attached to the University of Provence. Apart from its research activity, the observatory is open to the general public and school groups and regularly proposes educational activities on astronomy. The association Andromède organizes exhibitions, school visits, group visits (children and adults), lectures, sky observations and planetarium shows. Furthermore, the observatory has a very fine room of old instruments which the Patrimoine group presents to the general public and school groups. The Palais Longchamp. The city had a shortage of water and since the 16th century, there had been a plan to dig a canal to supply Marseille with water from the river Durance. The water problem became an obsession for the municipality in the 19th centuury, aggravated by a cholera epidemic in 1835. From 1838 onwards, projects for the digging of this canal were designed finally the plan of the public works engineer Franz Mayor de Montrichier was adopted. To dig this canal of 85 kilometres, underground ducts and 18 aqueduct bridges had to be made. This took 10 years, helped by the tenacity of certain councillors like Mayor Consolat. Right from the beginning of the works in 1839, a monumental reservoir to celebrate this so precious water was planned. After several projects, the design of the architect of Notre-Dame de la Garde, Henry Espérandieu, was chosen to build the most remarkable of all edifices constructed during the Second Empire. Usually, the front is 7 metres wide and the depth of the building is 14 metres. According to the means and the wishes of the client, the buildings are more or less decorated especially around the entrance doors and the window frames. Sometimes, the three-window module was doubled and some buildings can have six windows, but these were built later. Apart from the three-window type, you can see private mansions built for only one family with very fine decoration. Most of these buildings have a garden, and those with even numbers open towards the south. This shows that the quality of living was already one of the preoccupations of 19th century architects. This historic building, inaugurated in 1869, commemorates the arrival of the water of the canal between the river Durance and Marseille. On the same site, it brought together the Museum of Fine Arts, which before was in the former Bernadines chapel, the Museum Natural History, a botanic park and a zoo. The rich decoration of the building evokes the abundance and fertility brought by the water of the canal. Here sculpture has a dominating role, and this work was entrusted to the greatest artists of that period. The famous animal sculptor Antoine Louis Barye created the lions and the tigers of the entrance, and the monumental fountain in the centre of the row of columns is the work of Jules Cavelier. It represents the river Durance surrounded by figures symbolizing the vines and wheat on a cart pulled by the bulls of Camargue. The interior decoration of the museums is also remarkable. The main stairs of the Fine Arts Museum are adorned by two large painting by Puvis de Cavannes, commissioned in 1867: Marseille, the Greek colony and Marseille, Gateway to the Orient. In the Provence room, painted by Raphaël Ponson, the museum has preserved a fine example of historical museography. The Fine arts Museum, installed in the left wing of the building. In the right wing of the building the Museum of Natural History has been instaled since 1869.

Place Henri Dunant Bd de Montricher 13233 Marseille
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Grand Hôtel Les Lecques
28 km

Grand Hôtel Les Lecques

On the Provençal coast, between Cassis and Bandol, you'll discover this charming and elegant Belle Époque styled mansion dominating the Mediterranean. On the Provençal coast, between Cassis and Bandol, you'll discover this charming and elegant Belle Epoque styled mansion dominating the Mediterranean. Nestled in the heart of a 3 hectare big park, 100 meters away from beaches of fine sand and from the shops, the Grand Hôtel Les Lecques is an ideal place for an unforgettable stay. Breakfast: Start the day with a delicious buffet in a pleasant environment, at the Le Parc restaurant and its terrace. The restaurants: "Le Parc" and its terrace: Our Chef invites you to come and discover his authentic and generous cuisine with Mediterranean flavours. You will delight your taste buds as well as your eyes: the panoramic terrace offers an outstanding view over our park and over the Lecques Bay. "La Pinède": A relaxing and pleasant moment near the swimming pool to fully enjoy the sun of our region, during summertime. The lounge bar: In a soft and muffled atmosphere, enjoy our selection of cocktails around the piano. The wine cellar: Discover our new wine cellar at the restaurant "Le Parc" and taste our Grand Crus and local wines. SERVICES As soon as you arrive in the hall, you will be seduced. Murals, columns and domes from another time harmoniously blend in with the Provençal furniture. The reception team welcome you warmly 7/7 - Big closed parking lot - Outdoor overflow pool - Deckchairs, towels and parasols available - 2 tennis courts - Petanque court - Table tennis - Bar service around the pool (not included)

24 avenue du Port 83270 Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer
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We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾