WELCOME TO MARSEILLE

Marseille is the most populous commune in France after Paris and is the centre of the third largest metropolitan area in France.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

Humans have inhabited Marseille and its environs for almost 30,000 years: Paleolithic cave paintings in the underwater Cosquer cave near the calanque of Morgiou date back to between 27,000 and 19,000 BC; and very recent excavations near the railway station have unearthed Neolithic brick habitations from around 6,000 BC.

Marseille, the oldest city of France, was founded in 600 BC by Greeks from Phocaea as a trading port under the name Μασσαλία –Massalia. The precise circumstances and date of founding remain obscure, but nevertheless a legend survives.

Marseille invites you to take a walk down the legendary Canebière, to stroll around the Old Harbor with its fish market and take a ride on the famous ferry-boat.

As the capital of soap-making and the home of the world-famous santons, Marseille holds festivals all year round, such as the boat-shaped biscuits known as navettes eaten at Candlemas, the Carnival, the Garlic fair, the feast of Saint-Eloi, water jousting at l'Estaque, the Kite-flying Festival and the Santon fair.

Real lovers of popular tradition will be enthralled by the Musée du Terroir Marseillais de Château-Gombert (Marseille Museum of Folk Culture)..

TRAVEL TIPS

Marseille, as elsewhere, ostentatious displays of wealth are unwise. Because Marseille is a port city with its share of seediness, be doubly careful about carrying valuables that can easily be snatched. Avoid leaving your car on the street downtown—auto theft is wide. Fortunately, there are ample and secure underground car parks and an excellent subway system.

TOURIST INFO

The efficient and helpful Office du Tourisme, at 4 La Canebière, provides a good selection of English-language flyers that cover the major points of interest.Phone: 04 91 13 89 00, www.marseille-tourisme.comIn addition, there's a small tourist office: La Vieille Charité, which sells a handy map of the city.WHEN TO GO

The best times to visit are spring, early summer, and autumn. Winter months are generally mild, but the unexpected arrival of the mistral can make the weather icy.

CLIMATE

 Weather averages for Marseille 

Month Jan Feb Mar

Apr

May Jun Jul Au

g Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Average high °C (°F)

12(53)

13(55)

16(61)

20(68)

23(74)

28(83)

31(88)

30(86)

26(78)

22(71)

16(60)

12(53)

21(69)

Average low °C (°F)

3(38)

3(38)

7(44)

10(50)

13(56)

18(64)

20(68)

19(66)

16(61)

13(55)

8(46)

4(39)

11(52)

Precipitation mm

(inches)

30.5

1.2

25.41

25.41

331.3

40.61.6

20.3

0.8

5.10.2

17.80.7

88.9

3.5

50.82

58.4

2.3

40.6

1.6

431.8

17VILLA VALMER

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Set at the foot of the mountain road, after the Fausse-Monnaie Bridge, the luxurious vegetation of this public park is dominated by the Valmer villa - architectural symbol of the Second Empire perched on the headland. With wonderful views of Marseilles' harbor and

islands, this is an ideal spot for finding some peace and quiet or for taking a stroll in the golden light of the Mediterranean sunset.

A historical attraction which was built in 1865 by its ancient proprietor, a rich oil manufacturer man named Charles GOUNELLE.

Later than, the structure became city property and up to 1967, Vila Valmer was the Marine National School of Marseille where it formed many Officers, Captains and radio operation Chiefs.

Furthermore, until 2002, Vila Valmer accommodated the Urban and Agglomeration Agency of Marseille.

The Center for Mediterranean Integration, Marseille, France

The Marseille Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) was created by a memorandum of understanding signed by six governments (Egypt, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia) and two international organizations (the European Investment Bank and the World Bank). Launched in Marseille on October 9, 2009, CMI strives to promote effective, sustainable, and mutually complementary development policies in the Mediterranean region. It does so by creating opportunities for policy makers, planners, academics, and market actors to generate, share, and apply knowledge and analysis. One of CMI’s key objectives is to identify and fill critical gaps in knowledge in the interest of regional prosperity.

Structure: CMI is a World Bank–administered platform for multi-partner programs. Governance and administrative arrangements are assured until July 2012. Between the annual meetings of CMI’s founding members and partners in CMI programs an Oversight Committee composed of representatives of CMI’s founding members convenes to guide the center. A Strategic Council composed of twelve prominent individuals from all walks of life provides advice on CMI’s work program. Programs: Three themes of programs are being developed at CMI: Integrated economies, participatory governance and Sustainable growth.

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COACH LINKS BETWEEN

MARSEILLE CITY CENTER AND THE AIRPORT EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Marseille to the airport From St. Charles Station –

Phone: 04 91 50 59 34Coaches: every 20 minutes from 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.From the airport to Marseille Phone: 04 42 14 31 27Coaches: every 20 minutes from 5:10 a.m. to 00:50 a.m.

Taxis: 24 hrs. a day at the airport -Phone : 04 42 14 24 44Taxis between the airport and Marseille city center cost approximately 35,38 Euros during the day and approximately 50-55 Euros at night. The night rate is applicable between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and from midnight to midnight on

Sundays and Public Holidays.

TAXI IN THE CITY

To ask for a taxi dial one of the number below:

Taxi Marseille : 04.91.02.20.20

Taxi plus: 04.91.60.03.60

Taxi Tupp. 04 91 80 05 80

RENT A CAR

ADA: 04 42 14 30 44Avis: 04 42 14 21 67 Budget: 04 42 14 24 55National Citer: 04 42 14 24 90 Europcar: 04 42 14 24 75Hertz: 04 42 14 32 70

GETTING AROUND

Marseille is a clean city, with an efficient metro (subway), bus and tramway system that stops everywhere you need to go in central

EMERGENCY CONTACTSOrganism

Telephone numbers

Ambulance service 15

Anti-poison centre 04 91 75 25 25

Burns centre 04 91 94 16 69

Coast guard service 04 94 27 27 11

Consumer complaints 04 91 17 95 00

Dentist 04 91 85 39 39

Fire service 18

Foreign social security 04 91 28 99 57

Marine life saving service Cross med

04 94 61 71 10

Pharmacist on duty 15

Police emergency 17

Regional traffic news 04 91 78 78 78

Scuba diving emergencies – Centre Hyperbare

04 91 74 49 96

Shipping forecast 08 36 68 08 13

SOS Cardiology 04 91 31 27 27

SOS Doctor 04 91 52 91 52

SOS Traveller 04 91 62 12 80

SOS veterinary surgeon 04 91 63 09 00

Weather forecast 08 36 68 02 13

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In addition to the times mentioned, the bus service operates to serve incoming flights. The journey takes approximately 25 min. Price: single tickets cost 8.50 Euros.

EATING IN MARSEILLE

Everyone knows the inhabitants of Marseille appreciate the simple things of life. It's true that nature has been extremely kind to them. In the first place, the natural environment: an ideal climate, right next to the sea with aromatic riches close at hand…You will discover the not-to-be-missed "bouillabaisse" (fish soup), aioli (Provencal garlic mayonnaise), pieds and paquets (pig's trotters), tapenade (olive dip), pistou (pesto) soup and lots of other dishes.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF GOOD RESTAURANTS:

CHEZ FONFON

140 Vallon des AuffesMarseillePhone: 04 91 52 14 38Fax: 04 91 52 14 16www.chez-fonfon.comA ten-minute walk from the Vieux Port brings you to the Vallon des Auffes, a perfect, small calanque (gorge) tucked away underneath the Corniche where Marseille fishermen and their families live. Here you'll find Chez Fonfon, popular since the 1950s with actors and celebrities for sophisticated seafood at reasonable prices. Specialties of the house include good bouillabaisse and the Provencal fish stew called bourride, grilled catch-of-the-day, salt-crusted fish, shrimp, and live lobster, as well as Provencal lamb.

PIZZERIA JEANNOT

129 Vallon des AuffesMarseillePhone: 04 91 52 11 28 For an even simpler meal in the same magical setting, the Pizzeria Jeannot offers

RESTAURANT MIRAMAR

12 Quai du PortPhone: 04 91 91 10 40Fax: 04 91 56 64 31www.bouillabaisse.comThe saffron-tinged fish soup is expertly prepared here, and if you're dining with a companion, you can compare this prototypical Marseilles dish to its cousin, bourride, the latter usually made with conger eel, sea bass, and bream poached with garlic and thickened with aioli. Beyond soup, the kitchen also excels at preparing fresh, catch-of-the-day bounty from the gulf, grilled simply or in a salt crust, as well as local langoustines (giant prawns) and homard (lobster). In warm weather, dine on the terrace with a view of the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.

L'ENTRECOTE DU PORT

6 Quai de Rive NeuvePhone: 04 91 33 84 84Fax: 04 95 33 43 51In such a seafood-saturated town, it's nice to find a place where—as you might have guessed by the name—steak is the main attraction. Located on the “Old Harbor” of Marseille, this restaurant is very friendly and serves good qulity meal. Salads are also available..

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VISITING MARSEILLE

Notre Dame de la Garde

To protect Marseille from the armies of Charles the Fifth, led by the Constable of Bourbon, François the 1st has a fort built in 1524 on the top of the hill, which, together with the Château “If”, forms a maritime defense which serves as a foundation for the present basilica and find above the north porch the

signature of the King I a salamander.But the Garde hill acquires all its meaning as a sacred as well as an urban symbol with the construction of the basilica in 1853.From the esplanade, in front of the sanctuary, there is a most impressive view of Marseille and its site. Between 2001 and 2007, the outside part and the decor inside the church have been restored.

Saint-Victor Abbey

The crypt preserve highly valuable archaeological evidence proving the presence of a quarry exploited in Greek times, then of a Hellenic necropolis (2nd century BC) which remained in use in the Christian era. It is lost between the 7th and the end of the 10th century. Saint Victor, like the whole of Western Europe, has

dark periods with Norman and Saracen invasions.

The If-Castle

Until the 16th century, “If” was an uninhabited island and the occasional haven of fishermen. It is François I, who, during a visit to Marseille in 1516, assesses its strategic importance and gives the order to build a fortress on it. In a very short time, the fortress

changes its purpose and becomes a prison. Rebels, ruffians and refractory galley slaves stayed there for more or less long periods.From 1689 onwards, the Protestants are thrown en masse into the unhealthy dungeons where many of them die. However, the fortress offers quite decent living conditions to distinguished prisoners. The Château “If” can be visited thanks to a regular boat service and welcomes every year more than 90 000 visitors.

Diving in the Mediterranean

Since Greek and Roman antiquity, the beauty of the underwater landscape near the coastline of Marseille has attracted divers who look for the best. Today, the excellent reputation of Marseille in this area is maintained by the French Federation of Studies and Marin Sports, the National Institute of

Professional Diving, the Centre of Ocean-logy and Comex , which collects the world records in deep sea diving.

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Les Calanques

Between Marseille and La Ciotat as well as the offshore islands of Frioul and Riou, the clanaques were declared a National Park in April 2012. They are the astonishing rough diamonds of the Mediterranean coast, an essential highlight of any tourist trip to Southern Provence. The calanques (pronounced "kalonk") offer spectacular views with series of looming white limestone rocks scored through with

deep valleys; they're the backdrop to a unique ecosystem, colourful fishing villages, peaceful creeks with intense, clear turquoise water and a wide range of sporting activities. There are also smaller calanques to the west of Marseille along the Blue Coast, between the city and Carry le Rouet. Visiting the calanques is possible by train, boat or by foot. Boat Excursions of varying lengths run out of Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat along the eastern calanques, and from Carry le Rouet along the western calanques.

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HOSPITALS

HOPITAL AMBROISE PARE1 r Eylau 13006 MARSEILLE Phone: 04 91 83 37 15Fax: 04 91 80 00 29

HOPITAL DE LA CONCEPTION 147, bd Baille 13005 MARSEILLECentral Hospital, 04 91 38 38 88Phone: 04 91 38 30 00Fax: 04 91 80 24 76

HOPITAL SAINTE MARGUERITE270, bd Ste Marguerite 13009 MARSEILLEStandard appointments: 04 91 74 40 00Anti- poisonsPhone: 04 91 75 25 25

FONDATION HOPITAL SAINT JOSEPH26, bd de Louvain13285 MARSEILLE CEDEX 08Phone: 04.91.80.65.00Fax: 04.91.80.64.17

HOPITAL MILITAIRE LAVERAN 34, bd Laveran 13013 MARSEILLE Phone: 04 91 61 70 00Fax: 04 91 61 70 03

HOPITAL PAUL DESBIEF38, r Forbin 13236 MARSEILLE CEDEX 02Standard Phone: 04 91 56 43 00Appointments: 04 91 56 43 42

HOPITAL SALVATOR270, bd Ste Marguerite, 13009 MARSEILLE,  Scuba diving accidents, central desk,Phone: 04 91 74 49 08

MEDICAL CLINICS / ANALYSIS LABORATORY

DentistCentre Médical Ferrari 39, r Ferrari - Marseille 5 Phone: 04 96 12 03 10

OphthalmologyCentre Ophthalmology Arnoux Filippi Jourdan 14, r Beauvau - Marseille 1 Phone: 04 91 33 14 45Fax: 04 91 55 05 95

HomeopathyDr. Crepin Emmanuel 27, bd Corderie - Marseille 7 Phone: 04 91 55 68 60

Centre Medical Le Richelieu 14, r Pascal - Marseille 7Phone: 04 91 52 86 71

Medical CabinetCentre Medical et Paramedical du Fort 17, r Papety – Marseille 7 Phone: 04 91 52 23 72

Laboratories Medicals Analyses Philippot 54, cours Pierre Puget -Marseille 6Phone: 04 91 33 37 04

Polyglot Doctor (English, Spanish)Dr.Foster5, r Daumier le Velasquez – Entrée 5 – Marseille8Phone: 04 91 81 45 31

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CONSULATES IN MARSEILLE

ALGERIA CONSULATE 363, Rue Paradis13008 MarseillePhone: 04 91 13 99 50 Fax: 04 91 37 13 73

EGYPT CONSULATE 166, Avenue de Hambourg13008 MarseillePhone: 04 91 25 04 04 Fax: 04 91 73 79 31

ISRAEL CONSULATE 146, Rue Paradis13006 MarseillePhone: 04 91 53 39 90 / Fax: 04 91 53 39 94E-mail: isconsulat@wanadoo.fr

LYBIA CONSULATE 6, Boulevard Rivet13008 MarseillePhone: 04 91 29 03 80 Fax: 04 91 22 58 21

LIBAN CONSULATE

2, Avenue du Parc Borély13008 Marseille Phone: 04 91 71 50 60  Fax: 04 91 77 26 75

MAROC CONSULATE 22, Allée Léon Gambetta13001 MarseillePhone: 04 91 50 02 96 Fax: 04 91 50 86 09

SYRIA CONSULATE 27, Rue Paradis13001 MarseillePhone: 04 91 54 73 00 Fax: 04 91 54 97 71

TUNISIA CONSULATE 8, Boulevard d'Athènes13001 MarseillePhone: 04 91 50 28 68 Fax: 04 91 08 59 69E-mail: cgt.marseille@wanadoo.fr

USA CONSULATE Place Varian Fry12, Bd Paul Peytral13286 MarseilleCEDEX 6Phone : 04 91 54 92 84

Fax : 04 91 55 09 47

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SUBWAY MAP

OPERATION

The Marseille subway (Métro) only operates from 05:00 in the morning until 21:00 in the evening, with trains every 5 minutes (every 3-4 min. during rush hours). Service is extended until 00:30 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A trip on Line 1 takes 19 minutes and on Line 2 16 minutes.

- FARES (2010, in Euro)

The Marseille fare system is called 'Reseau Liberté' (Freedom Network). Tickets are valid for metro, tram and buses with free transfer within one hour:

Solo (single ticket) - EUR 1.50

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