The Marseille Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary Major, unites two eras of faith and architecture. The site includes both the Old Marseille Cathedral, dating to the 12th century, and the New Marseille Cathedral, constructed under Emperor Napoleon III in the late 19th century. Napoleon ordered the older Provençal Romanesque building replaced but preserved part of it—the choir and one bay of the nave—after public protests over its demolition.

The New Marseille Cathedral dominates the waterfront with its vast Romanesque-Byzantine Revival design. Stretching 469 feet in length, with a main dome reaching 231 feet in height, it can hold about 3,000 worshippers. Its façade alternates bands of white and dark stone, a combination of Florentine limestone and Ligurian green porphyry, producing a striped pattern affectionately nicknamed “the Pajamas” by locals. Inside, the cathedral reveals a rich blend of imported materials: white Carrara marble from Italy, onyx from Tunisia, and dazzling Venetian mosaics that illuminate its chapels and domes.

Beside this grand 19th-century structure lie the remains of the Old Cathedral, a humble yet evocative remnant of Marseille’s medieval heritage. The surviving chancel and apse feature smaller side chapels and a cylindrical vault crowned with octagonal and heptagonal domes. Archaeological traces beneath the site even reveal earlier Christian structures dating to the 5th century, showing that this location has been a place of worship for over fifteen centuries.

A visit to Marseille Cathedral offers not just architectural splendor but also some of the best panoramic views of the port and the Mediterranean. Rising between sea and city, the cathedral stands as both a symbol of continuity and a beacon of faith—undeniably one of Marseille’s must-see attractions.

The Old Port is the city’s historic heart and one of the most evocative harbours in Europe, being a centre of maritime life for over 2,600 years. The site was first used as a trading post by the Phoenicians, long before the Greek settlers from Phocaea officially established it in 600 BCE as the port of Massalia, making it the birthplace of the city itself.

Through the centuries, the Old Port became a hub of Mediterranean commerce and naval activity. Kings Louis XII and Louis XIII expanded the shipyards in the 15th and 16th centuries, while King Louis XIV added the imposing Fort Saint John and Fort Saint Nicholas to defend the entrance of the harbour. The port reached its commercial peak in the 19th century, when up to 18,000 merchant vessels docked here annually, rivaling the activity of major ports such as Liverpool and Le Havre. However, with the arrival of large steamships that required deeper waters, Marseille shifted much of its industrial trade to the Port of La Joliette, located farther north.

The Old Port suffered immense damage during World War II, when German forces, assisted by French police, demolished much of the area to block access to Allied troops. Postwar reconstruction reshaped the district, and by the late 20th century, major urban renewal projects restored the port’s vitality. Architect Norman Foster’s redesign, featuring the The Shade Pavilion, a mirrored canopy that reflects the harbour below, marked a new era of pedestrian-friendly space and modern elegance.

Today, the Port serves as a marina for yachts, ferries, and fishing boats, as well as the site of a daily fish market that preserves centuries-old local tradition. Lined with cafés, restaurants, and open-air terraces, it remains a favourite gathering place for both locals and visitors.

Saint Ferréol Street is one of the city’s main arteries for commerce and social life. The street took shape in the 17th and 18th centuries as Marseille expanded beyond its medieval walls. Its name honors Saint Ferreol of Uzès, whose cult had local importance in Provence. In earlier times, the area was a residential quarter for wealthy merchants, and elegant 19th-century façades still line the street today, giving it a distinct Parisian-style look.

In the 19th century, the street became one of Marseille’s most fashionable shopping streets, attracting luxury stores, cafés, and cultural venues. By the early 20th century, it was nicknamed “The Fashion Street" for its stylish boutiques and window displays. Major French department stores, including Lafayette Galleries, established their presence here, marking the street as a symbol of Marseille’s urban prosperity.

A fun detail is that Saint Ferréol Street has no car traffic, which makes it one of the city’s most pleasant spots for walking and window-shopping. Street musicians and performers often set up along its length. Today, it remains one of the main shopping streets in southern France, blending international chains with historic architecture.

Notre-Dame de la Garde stands proudly as an opulent Neo-Byzantine church situated atop the highest natural point in Marseille, perched upon a 532 feet limestone outcrop on the south side of the Old Port. This majestic site has become a cherished destination for an annual pilgrimage on Assumption Day.

Conceived by the talented architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, the basilica received its consecration on the 5th of June in 1864. Its origins trace back to a church with the same name, first erected in 1214 and later reconstructed during the 15th century. Remarkably, the basilica's foundations rest upon a 16th-century fortress built by Francis I of France to fend off Emperor Charles V's siege of the city in 1536.

The basilica comprises two distinct sections: a lower church or crypt, artistically carved into the rock in the Romanesque style, and an upper church boasting Neo-Byzantine elegance adorned with breathtaking mosaics. Towering above is a square bell-tower, reaching a height of 135 feet, crowned with a belfry standing at 42 feet. At its peak, a monumental statue of the Madonna and Child, crafted from copper gilded with gold leaf, soars to an impressive 27 feet.

During its history, the basilica encountered challenges, particularly regarding the stone used in its construction, which proved susceptible to atmospheric corrosion. In response, extensive restoration work took place from 2001 to 2008. This effort encompassed the meticulous repair of the mosaics, damaged by candle smoke over the years, as well as by bullets during the Liberation of France at the end of World War II.

Overlooking the sea stands the Saint-Victor Abbey, a historic monastery that has occupied this site since around 415 CE, being among the first Christian sanctuaries established in Provence. Tradition holds that it was founded by the monk John Cassian, and some believe the crypt contains relics of Saint Victor himself—or even traces of an ancient Greek quarry.

Cassian originally established two monasteries here, one for men and one for women, on opposite sides of the old harbor. Both were destroyed by Saracen raiders in the 8th or 9th centuries, but monastic life resumed in 977. The abbey flourished for several centuries before being stripped of its treasures during the French Revolution in 1794. At various times it served as a warehouse, prison, and barracks, before being restored under Napoleon. In 1934, Pope Pius XI elevated it to the rank of minor basilica following extensive renovation.

Visitors find tombs of saints and bishops, alongside pagan sarcophagi from the early Christian period. Above, the abbey’s crenelated towers offer panoramic views over the harbor and the Mediterranean. Its elevated position near Fort Saint Nicholas once allowed monks to watch for approaching Saracen or Viking ships. Each year on Candlemas, a traditional pilgrimage takes place from the Old Port to the abbey. The Black Madonna, normally kept in the crypt, is wrapped in a green cloak and carried to the square before the church, where she receives a blessing from the bishop.

Tip: It’s worth paying the small entrance fee to visit the crypt—it truly feels like entering another world.

The Fort Saint-Nicolas stands as a bold reminder of the city’s turbulent relationship with royal power. Completed in 1664 by order of King Louis XIV, the fortress was intended to protect the harbor—but with a twist. The cannons were not aimed out to sea, but toward the city itself. The message was unmistakable: Marseille’s rebellious citizens were to be kept firmly under royal control. Even the nearby Fort Saint-Jean, built at the same time, was similarly directed at the town rather than potential invaders.

Throughout the 18th century, Fort Saint-Nicolas served primarily as a military prison, housing both soldiers and political detainees. During the French Revolution, the people of Marseille turned their anger on the symbol of royal authority and tried to destroy it. The National Assembly, however, intervened after a month, deciding the fortress could still serve the new republic’s purposes.

Restored in the 19th century, the fort’s layered history remains visible in its structure: the older sections in red stone contrast with the grey additions from later repairs. The complex is divided into two parts—the seaward side, still used by the military as an officers’ mess, and the landward side, which is open to visitors. From this elevated vantage point, visitors are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Marseille, its harbor, and the Mediterranean beyond.

The Pharo Palace stands proudly on a rocky promontory at the entrance to Marseille’s Old Port. The site’s name comes from the nearby Pharo Bay, while the hill on which it was built was once known as “Moor’s Head”. The location was chosen for its strategic position, allowing an imperial residence to dominate both land and sea.

In 1852, Prince Louis-Napoleon, soon to become Napoleon III, commissioned architect Vaucher to design a grand seaside palace fit for imperial visits. The city of Marseille donated the land, and the project was later taken over by architect Lefuel, best known for his work on the Louvre Palace in Paris. Construction continued for two decades, but fate intervened: Napoleon III never stayed there, and after his death, Empress Eugénie generously gifted the Pharo Palace back to the city.

By 1904, the palace had found a new purpose as a medical school. Later, it was converted into a conference and cultural venue, and today the building regularly hosts international meetings, exhibitions, and fairs. Its restored halls and modern extensions can accommodate up to 2,500 people, blending historic architecture with contemporary function.

Architecturally, the Pharo Palace showcases the confident style of the Second Empire, with its symmetrical façade, grand terraces, and arched windows overlooking the sea. After the fall of the Empire in 1870, all imperial emblems were removed from the façade, leaving behind a dignified civic monument rather than a royal residence. The surrounding Pharo Garden is open to the public and offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views.

Built in 1656, the City Hall has served as Marseille’s civic centre ever since, replacing the earlier Town Hall that had fulfilled the same role since the 13th century. Often referred to as “The Lodge”, derived from the Italian loggia for its Baroque style, it was designed by Gaspard Puget.

The pink stone building, is richly decorated with sculptures and flags, reflecting the prosperity of 17th-century Marseille, then a thriving maritime republic under French influence. Above the main entrance is the city’s seal, created by Gaspard’s brother, Pierre Puget, a favourite artist of King Louis XIV. Appropriately, a bust of the Sun King crowns the façade, gazing over the bustling harbour and boulevard below.

Though monarchs fell from power in the 18th century, the City Hall endured. It survived multiple regimes, revolutions, and even the devastation of World War II—standing as a rare witness to the city’s turbulent history. Remarkably, despite wartime bombings that destroyed much of the surrounding district in 1943, the building itself escaped major damage. Inside, several ceremonial rooms still preserve period furnishings, portraits of former mayors, and historical archives that document centuries of municipal life.

The building’s rear features a covered bridge connecting its two main levels, symbolically reuniting the upper floor—once reserved for the nobility—with the ground floor, which was occupied by merchants and tradesmen in the 18th century. The City Hall continues to house the mayor’s office and serves as a venue for civic ceremonies, making it both a working institution and a living monument to the city’s storied past.

The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée) is a national institution situated in Marseille. Its inauguration took place on 7th June 2013, coinciding with Marseille's designation as the European Capital of Culture during the Marseille-Provence 2013 celebration. This museum was recognized for its excellence and awarded the prestigious Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2015.

Dedicated to the exploration of European and Mediterranean civilizations, the museum showcases a permanent collection that delves into the historical and cultural interactions within the Mediterranean basin. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, it covers various aspects of society throughout different eras, right up to modern times.

The museum's strategic location lies on reclaimed land at the harbor's entrance, adjacent to the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean and the former port terminal, J4. A channel separates the contemporary building from the Fort Saint-Jean, which has been renovated as part of the overall project. These two areas are connected via a 130-meter-long high footbridge. Additionally, another footbridge links Fort Saint-Jean to the Esplanade de la Tourette, close to the church of Saint Laurent in the Panier quarter.

Designed by architects Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta, the museum embodies the concept of "stone, water, and wind." It features a striking cube-shaped structure spanning 15,000 square meters, enclosed by a latticework shell made of fiber-reinforced concrete. Inside, visitors can explore exhibits on two levels, while an underground auditorium with a seating capacity of 400 enriches the experience. The ground floor houses the permanent collection and a bookshop, while the top terrace hosts a restaurant that offers breathtaking panoramic views of Marseille's bay, the Corniche, and the Prado area.

In addition to its regular exhibitions, the museum presented a special exhibition in 2022 dedicated to Emir Abdelkader. This unique showcase provided an opportunity to delve into significant historical and memorial aspects related to this eminent figure within the Mediterranean context.