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Travel to Marseille by train

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Marseilles doesn’t just mean pastis, pétanque, bouillabaisse and the stories by Marcel Pagnol that are so closely associated with the city. Come and find out for yourself at the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, which has looked out over the city, its fishermen and inhabitants since 1864. From its esplanade, you can enjoy one of the city’s best views and really see just how tightly Marseilles is hemmed in by the surrounding hills – including the Massif des Calanques range – as it stretches along the Mediterranean coastline.

Stroll along the famous Avenue Canebière, visit the Old Port and its fish market, or have a look round Le Panier, one of the city’s oldest districts.

As you wander around, don’t forget to visit the various forts and castles (Château d'If, Château Pastre, Fort Saint-Jean and Fort Saint-Nicolas), the Opera house, the city hall, the Palais de la Bourse, the Palais du Pharo and the Promenade de la Corniche...

From Marseilles you can also visit Provence’s most beautiful villages and learn about their ancient traditions, enjoy the cliffs of Cassis, the port of Martigues and the Côte Bleue, Aubagne and the Garlaban, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence...

Marseille

There’s plenty of time for pacing on the island of If! Its castle, built on the orders of Francis I, towers over a small piece of land 300m long and 180m wide. The Château d’If became a state prison in 1634 and held princes, Protestants, unruly gentlemen (Mirabeau was imprisoned for 6 months on his father’s orders), rebels of the 1848 revolution and Paris Communards of 1871. Alexandre Dumas also used it to imprison Edmond Dantès, the hero of his novel The Count of Monte-Cristo. Nowadays you can even visit Dantès’ cell, where reality meets fiction!

Address: Château d’If: Embarcadère Frioul If Express, 1 quai de la Fraternité, 13001 Marseille

More information: http://if.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/

Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, known as the "Good Mother”, is the symbol of the city, watching over sailors, fishermen and local citizens. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Phocaean city from the basilica’s esplanade.

Address: Place Colonel Edon, 13006 Marseille

More information: http://www.notredamedelagarde.com

In Marseille, fans of modern architecture should take a trip to the Cité Radieuse. This unique housing unit was designed by Le Corbusier, the famous French architect.

Address: 280, Boulevard Michelet, 13009 Marseille

More information: http://www.marseille-citeradieuse.org

The Cantini museum houses one of France’s most beautiful public collections, mostly dating from the period 1900-1960. Art lovers will be able to admire major works by Picasso, Giacometti, Bacon and Dubuffet, among others.

Address: 19, rue Grignan, 13006 Marseille

More information: http://www.marseille.fr/sitevdm/culture/musees/liste-des-musees/musee

During a guided visit to the Marseille Soap Museum, you’ll learn about the history of this very special soap, which goes all the way back to the Middle Ages. You’ll also be able to see the valuable evidence of this history, including carved boxwood stamps, tools, the first soap moulds, stencils for delivery cases, old packaging, headed paper and washboards.

Address: 148, av Paul Bourret, 13300 Salon-de-Provence

More information: http://www.marius-fabre.fr/site_r04visites/0402.htm

Borély Park is one of Marseille’s most popular green spots. It is home to an 18th-century country house beautifully set in a French-style garden, and a 19th-century landscaped park. The garden is the work of the engineer and architect Embry, who designed it in 1775. Take a visit to the magnificent stately home and cool down by the many fountains.

Address: Avenue du Prado, 13008 Marseille

More information: http://www.marseille.fr/sitevdm/versions-etrangeres/discover-marseille





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Travel time
Brussels Midi
Return from
*
Lille 34 min. € 36
Paris 1h22 € 44
CDG Airport 1h13 € 114
Disneyland Paris 1h28 € 58
Tours 3h23 € 58
Poitiers 4h09 € 58
Angoulême 4h58 € 58
Bordeaux 6h11 € 58
Lyon 3h23 € 58
Valence 3h42 € 58
Avignon 4h17 € 58
Aix-en-Provence 4h40 € 58
Marseille 4h55 € 58
Saint-Raphaël 6h48 € 58
Cannes 7h12 € 58
Antibes 7h23 € 58
Nice 7h44 € 58
Nîmes 5h11 € 58
Montpellier 5h39 € 58
Perpignan 7h24 € 58
Metz 3h40 € 102
Strasbourg 5h07 € 144
Colmar 5h49 € 158
France by train >
* Unless expressly stated otherwise, all fares quoted are per person (VAT included), based on a return journey in 2nd Class from Brussels and subject to availability.