Monumental Highlights of Marseille, Marseille, France

Marseille is the second-largest city in France. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe. The city was founded by Greek sailors around 600 BC as Massilia. Today you can admire ancient ruins and modern landmarks. Marseille is has many monuments that tell the story of its diverse past. You can wander around in the historic Old Port, explore the centuries-old forts, or admire the contemporary architecture. The monumental highlights of Marseille are about classical heritage to its modern-day sights, including the Frioul Islands.

The Old Port of Marseille is known as Vieux-Port in French. It is the heart of the city and has been over 2,600 years. The ancient Greeks created the city around 600 BC and it was originally created as a safe harbour for their ships. This was the beginning of Marseille’s position as a trading hub in the Mediterranean. Over the centuries, the port has seen countless historical events, from naval battles to trade exchanges.

During the Roman period, the Old Port continued to flourish as a centre for commerce. Marseille had an excellent strategic location between Europe, Africa and the East. Its importance as a maritime trade route remained strong through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. Marseille’s dockyards and warehouses were trading goods from across the Mediterranean. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).