Marseille – at the crossroads of the Mediterranean

Alexandre Dumas, who knew Marseilles well and set the scene of his most famous novel The Count of Monte Cristo in the city, described it as a place where the whole world was having fun. The Mediterranean port city with a long maritime tradition has become synonymous with the French melting pot with its 26 centuries of history. The oldest French city is also preparing for an important role as the European capital of culture in 2013.

Future cultural capital

Probably the hero of the novel Edmond Dantes, when he had already transformed into the Count of Monte Cristo, had a different view of the city when he entered the port of Marseille than we have today, almost two hundred years later, and no doubt his feelings at the sight of two magnificent fortresses guarding the harbor, similar to those seen by the traveler today who boards one of the ships in Vieux Port. While the mighty silhouettes of the fortresses of St. John (Saint-Jean) and St. Nicholas (Saint-Nicolas) witnesses to the turbulent past shaped by the Greeks and Romans, and the history of the city is also witnessed by medieval church buildings, fortresses from the 16th century, luxury residences from the 17th and 18th centuries and many prestigious palaces from the 19th century. Marseille is also modern and futuristic, which we will see when we see the buildings of the visionary Le Corbusier and the adventurous projects that will see the light of day in 2013, when the second most populated French city will be awarded the title of European Capital of Culture. In December of last year, the city proudly announced that they would remodel the harbor to make it more pedestrian-friendly, and they entrusted the challenging task to world-renowned architects Norman Foster, who also won the Pritzker Architecture Oscar, and architect Michel Desvigne. By 2013, the urban image of Marseille will thus be given a new face, including the opening of new cultural institutions on the coast between Fort Saint-Jean and the initial part of the port, called La Joliette. Among the new museums that will open their doors in 2013, a visit to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations will be particularly interesting. I have to, which will be dedicated to modern Euro-Mediterranean civilizations and will help visitors better understand the societies in which we live. The city is already rapidly preparing for 2013, as already this year as many as 74 projects are taking place, which include exhibitions, events, conferences and workshops, and the entire budget that the city will devote to culture until and during the year when it will be the European Capital of Culture. totals as much as 98 million euros.

Typical Marseille

A picturesque quarter lies behind the fortress of St. John Panier, one of the oldest in the city, which today is full of cafés and shops with products typical of Marseilles, of course dominated by shops that offer of soap of all types, colors and aromas. Marseille soap production, which was established in the city shortly after the Crusades, flourished in the 16th century. In 1786, there were 48 soap factories in the city, employing 600 workers, and the annual production was as much as 76,000 tons. In the 19th century, the technique developed greatly and high-quality products containing olive or palm oil began to be produced in Marseille. Today, only a handful of manufacturers remain in the city, but soap remains one of the most famous products. Marseille is also one of the starting points for getting to know Provence, so there is no shortage of spices, tablecloths and other fabrics, typical Provençal patterns and colors in the shops, and of course pastiche. The famous drink was brewed in 1923 by artist, craftsman and nature lover Paul Richard. To perfect the recipe, he needed a whole year of mixing and combining the aroma of anise and adding other aromatic plants. Soon after, the real expansion of this Provençal drink followed, mainly with the penetration of other brands (Bardoin, Janot, Casains...) and the offer of smaller producers. We should not return from Marseille without ceramic products, cookies navettes in the form of small boats, which were made to commemorate the arrival of St. Lazarus and the other saints who sailed to the Provençal coast almost two thousand years ago.

French specialties

We must also experience typical Marseille in the culinary sense. The inhabitants of the city proudly say that the main spice of their dishes is hospitality, but if we transfer this component to food, the basis of their cuisine is olive oil and garlic. At the crossroads of the Mediterranean, many influences from other countries have entered the local cuisine, and the result is spicy dishes with a sunny aftertaste, and among the dishes, fish, shellfish and other seafood are at the forefront. We definitely have to try it while visiting one of the local restaurants bouillabaisse, which was first a popular dish of fishermen, but later became one of the specialties of French cuisine. The dish is served in two stages: first the soup and then the fish. Of course, young chefs are not afraid to experiment with the traditional recipe, and the result is a bouillabaisse milkshake or a bouillabaisse hamburger, and the elaborate Marseille recipe requires that at least five types of fish be used in the dish. Culinary lovers will always be rewarded, and our taste buds will enjoy tasting various spreads, spices, sauces and, of course, excellent wines, and it is certain that at least a mixture of Provençal spices will also find its way into our luggage. The easiest way to get to know the cuisine of Marseille and Provence is in excellent restaurants, some of which have become real stars (and also the proud bearers of the famous Michelin stars) due to the excellent food and creativity of the chefs. Chef Gérald Passédat, who creates in the restaurant Petit Nice Passédat, is the proud owner of three stars. In France, which is considered a gourmet mecca, only 26 restaurants own such a prestigious title. Among the prestigious restaurants, it is also worth mentioning L'Epuisette, where the master chef Guillaume Sourrieu makes sure that the Mediterranean and Provençal recipes are not lost, and the restaurant Une Table au sud.

How to get there

Marseille-Provence International Airport is one of the fastest growing European airports in terms of the number of passengers, as last year it recorded a growth of 3.2%, MP2 and is the leading European terminal for low-cost airlines. Marseille is connected to Paris by as many as 22 daily flights, and as many as 21 low-cost flights connect the city with other airports in France, Europe and Morocco. Even by high-speed train TGV the city of Marseille is easily accessible, as it is only a three-hour drive from Paris, and three important highways connecting Marseille with Spain, Italy and Northern Europe intersect in the city. For most visitors traveling by car, it is an excellent starting point for exploring the beauties of Provence or the French Riviera, which is a two-hour drive away.