Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Provence
Provence s said to epitomise romantic France and images of lavender fields prevail.
Sadly I have not yet had time to explore Provence fully, so this page will concentrate on the one place I have visited, Marseille.
Marseille is the second largest city in France, after Paris and is the country's largest port and the fourth largest in Europe. It used to have a terrible reputation as being the bad boy of France, crime ridden and unsafe.
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That's all changed now, very much o the back of being the European City of Culture in 2013.
There are some underlying tensions as a result of a large immigrant community but stick to the main areas and is is safe day and night.
One of the most stunning buildings is the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille or Cathédrale de la Major.
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A beautiful white structure with a unique design it is an impressive building.
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There has been a church on the site since the 12th century but a rebuild in the latter 19th century gave us the current building.
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Inside it is airy, bright and spacious, with all the usual nooks and crannies you would expect.
An interesting exhibit near the main entrance is a very clever scale model of the cathedral built from matchsticks.
Surprisingly the cathedral is located outside the city centre, near the port area.
The area around the cathedral has been extensively modernised with a huge plaza and the obligatory big wheel.
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One thing to bear in mind though is dress appropriately because the plaza is exposed and it always seems to be windy in Marseille.
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There are a couple of museums, in very modern buildings around the plaza. One dedicated to Provence and the other, somewhat grandly, to The Civilization of Europe.
Walking round from the plaza heading towards the city centre you come to the Vieux-Port de Marseille, very much a boating car park for the sailing set, not to mention the odd opulent private yacht.
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The Port is also home to a small fishing fleet and, at the top end of the port, the fishermen sell their catches direct from the boat - you cannot get fresher than that.
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It goes without saying the port is lined with restaurants and cafés - many of the restaurants, unsurprisingly, being of the seafood variety.
From the port area you can catch a Petit Train for a vocal tour or the ubiquitous red, open top, tourist bus for a wider exploration of the city.
Behind the top of the port is the main shopping drag with all the usual assortment of stores big and small.
Many shops sell savon de Marseille, the famous local soap made with olive oil and produced here since the 12th century. Being Provence there are plenty of lavender based products available.
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However, sod the soap and lavender, Marseille is also home to the most magical of alcoholic beverages - Pastis.
Le Marché des Capucins takes advantage of the city's nautical heritage and large north African population in recreating an exotic souk where there is a sublime spice market where you can buy almost any spice you can imagine. The market is also good for brightly coloured fabrics.