Hello from Marseille,
I had every intention of sending you my full five-day Marseille Off-Season Itinerary this week, but it’s not quite finished yet. I’m putting so much heart into this one — every detail matters, and I want to make sure it’s just right before sharing it with you.
In the meantime, I thought I’d share a little introduction — through ten fun facts — to help you get a sense of this amazing, sometimes misunderstood city. Marseille is layered, controversial, full of contrast and charm. It isn’t always easy to define, but it leaves a mark. Here are ten things that make it different and, to me, completely irresistible.
1. It’s really old
Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded in 600 BC by Greek sailors from Phocaea (modern-day Turkey), who called it Massalia. That’s over 2,600 years of continuous history and “le vieux Port” has been active since then. Today, it’s where fishermen still sell their daily catch directly off the boat each morning — a rare living tradition in a major European city.
2. It has its own accent (and attitude)
People from Marseille speak French with a distinct sing-song accent, influenced by Occitan and Italian. There’s also a unique local slang called “parler marseillais” — full of expressions you won’t hear anywhere else in France.
3. Bouillabaisse isn’t just soup
The iconic fish stew bouillabaisse originated here — but beware: real bouillabaisse isn’t cheap or casual. It’s a multi-course ritual made with at least four types of local rockfish, served with saffron broth and rouille. Locals are very picky about what counts as authentic.
4. The city is a living street art museum
Marseille’s streets are full of incredible murals, graffiti, and political art, especially in neighborhoods like Cours Julien and Le Panier. Many walls are constantly being repainted — it’s urban expression in motion.
5. The Calanques are like nowhere else
Just minutes from the city, the Calanques National Park is a surreal mix of limestone cliffs, turquoise water, and hidden beaches — accessible by foot, kayak, or boat.
6. It’s incredibly Diverse
Over 100 nationalities are represented in Marseille. It has one of the largest North African communities in Europe and strong influences from Italy, Armenia, Comoros, and West Africa — making the city feel more like a cultural crossroads than a classic French postcard.
7. Notre-Dame de la Garde watches over everyone
Locals affectionately call her “La Bonne Mère” (The Good Mother). This basilica towers above the city on a hill and is believed to protect sailors, footballers, and just about everyone. Even non-religious locals light candles for her before big life events.
8. Football is a religion
The local team, Olympique de Marseille (OM), is a source of intense pride. Their 1993 Champions League win made them the only French team to ever win the competition. Game nights are passionate — even chaotic — affairs.
9. The real savon de Marseille has just four makers left
Despite being sold everywhere, real Savon de Marseille — the olive oil soap — is only made by four traditional soapmakers using century-old techniques. (Savonnerie du Fer à Cheval, Marius Fabre, Savonnerie du Midi, and Le Sérail) It’s part of Marseille’s UNESCO-recognized heritage of craftsmanship.
10. It’s Home to One of France’s Most Striking Modern Buildings
The Cité Radieuse, designed by Le Corbusier in 1952, is an icon of modernist architecture. Still inhabited today, it includes apartments, shops, a rooftop terrace, and even a school — a vertical village long before mixed-use buildings were trendy.
Well and a last one, that is why I love Marseille so much:
11. You Can Swim in the City Center
Unlike most coastal cities, Marseille has actual beaches within walking or biking distance of downtown. You can take a dip before your first meeting of the day or just after school pickup — and honestly, it’s a game changer.
This is just a glimpse of what makes Marseille so compelling. In the next post, I’ll be sharing my full Five Days in Marseille itinerary — with favorite places, hidden corners, and practical tips to help you experience the city the way locals do.
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À très bientôt,
Maud
Feel free to share this to a friend who will travel to the South of France this Summer, it’s free :)
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