Vieux Port in Marseille, Marseille, France

The Travel Pages takes a tour of the Vieux Port in Marseille, visiting the quai des Belges, Palais de Pharo, the Abbaye Saint-Victor, and Cathédrale de la Major.

When you first arrive at the Vieux Port and witness the noisy traffic, the tourist crowds, the souvenir sellers and the thousands of boats tied up in the harbour, you might wonder what the attraction is. Well, give yourself a day or two to get used to it, and you’ll realise that all this is part of the charm – it’s the busy buzz of Marseille. It’s a long way from the days when it was the original tiny harbour which the ancient Greeks sailed into, to trade with the first settlers.

The fish market on the quai des Belges is a modern reminder of those origins, though, with fishermen from along the coast coming to lay their catches out every morning of the week and looking for customers. There’s also a more general market on a Sundays where you can buy ceramics and other crafts, as well as local food and drink.

The entrance to the harbour is guarded by two fortresses. Fort St-Jean, on the north side, dates from the 12th century. Fort St-Nicolas, built by Louis XIV on the south side, is still a military post. Stroll between them along the waterfront, stopping at the many bars, restaurants and cafes that line the quaysides. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).