Marseille, capital of the Souths

Originally

A European gateway, an open door towards the African continent: Marseille has been dubbed the city of one hundred languages since the 19th century. From the Old Port Port to Le Panier, from La Castellane to l’Estaque, conversations from around the globe contribute to the city's pride, allowing the numerous artists, athletes and creators to leave an indelible mark on the nation.

Over the centuries

Dominating the cityscape at 149 metres, the limestone pinnacle of Bonne Mère stands as a guardian over Marseille's sailors. Opposite is the 16th-century Château d'If, a true floating fortress and the backdrop for Alexandre Dumas' Monte Cristo. Roman relics, mediaeval structures, Roman or Venetian art on cathedral walls… thus are the many examples proving Marseille's heritage to be truly unparalleled. Today, the MUCEM prolongs this legacy, by offering at Fort Saint-Jean a new aerial promenade overlooking the sea.

Nowadays

From Akhénaton and Zidane in the past to Jul and SCH today, the second-largest city in France wears its Mediterranean pride on its sleeve, but not only: Marseille knows how to unite around powerful collective emotions, allowing herself to be swept away by the remarkable feats she hosts. The Vélodrome, a venue steeped in Marseille's sporting glory and Homeric jousts, has no intention of slowing down. It's not just a place for athletic achievements but also a papal welcome space, where joy and felicity are embraced secularly, as Marseille has been known to demonstrate.

Cultural Olympiad

If Alexandre Dumas selected it as the backdrop for his "Monte Cristo," the Château d'If continues to inspire leading creators today. As a highlight of the Cultural Olympiad, La Horde and the National Ballet of Marseille will stage a captivating performance, accompanied by a soundtrack curated by the electronic composer Rone. In addition, visual artist Miguel Chevalier will present an interactive exploration of the monument, inviting us to ponder the mysteries of the ocean’s depths.

Did you know?

• The call of the sea in the heart of the Old Port, from Ottoman, British, and Italian sailors who populated the city to the street vendors of Quai des Belges, now renamed Fraternity.

• The backroads of the Calanques, a national park facing the Frioul Islands, encompassing both the sounds stirred by the Mistral wind and the Cosquer Cave.

• A graceful lacework of concrete that mirrors the froth of the ocean: the Mucem, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, a visionary creator who also designed two footbridges of 135 and 70 metres on the same site, made of concrete with properties close to steel.

• Montecristo and the Bonne Mère: when the Château d'If, a floating fortress dear to Alexandre Dumas, responds to the limestone peak that protects Marseille's sailors at 149 metres high.

• From the fiery passions of the legendary Vélodrome Stadium, a volcanic stronghold of Olympique de Marseille, to the arabesques of Laure and Florent Manaudou at the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille, a century-old golden pool where the greatest French aquatic talents have successively dived.

• An uncompromising feminism, embodied by the writer Olympe Audouard, whose beginnings in Marseille allowed her to see far and travel the world, from Syria to the United States; as well as the passionate political figure Simone Weil, who took refuge in 1940 with her pareMarseille, capital of the Southsnts on Rue des Catalans.

• Contemporary creation showcased today at the “Friche Belle de Mai”, a surprise constantly renewed near the Saint-Charles Station.

• The Gulf of l'Estaque, vividly depicted in Cézanne's paintings and portrayed with generosity in Robert Guédiguian's cinema.