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AIDSImpact.com Marseille 2007 About Marseille Accommodation Abstracts Announcements Brochures Exhibitors International Committee Presenter Information Programme Satellites Scientific Committee Venue Visitor number: 2859398 |
Marseilles
Marseilles,
the second largest city in France, and the largest commercial port is described
as the capital of southern Europe, cosmopolitan and exuberant with it’s
picturesque old ports. It is also the
capital of Provence, and is at the other end of the Riviera to its flashy
rival, Nice, both in terms of location and image. There are no manicured
promenades and no glitzy hotels in this louche port. But for all its
shabbiness, pollution and congestion, Marseille is one of the most exhilarating
cities in France, offering a polyglot of cultures and races, and some of the
best restaurants in the country Founded in 600 b.c. by the Greek sailors
of Phocaea, this great city is the oldest in France and surely the most
complex. The old town ("Panier") and port, the cliff road
high above the sea, the wild inlets plunging into the deep blue water for 20
km. To Cassis, this is the Marseilles of the tourist guide. But the commercial
port, the airport, the oil industry, the large population all play an important
part in the ecomomic role ot the whole ot Provence and complete the picture of
a city rich not only economically but in culture, art and science. To discover its unique character and beauty,
one must leave the center of town and explore some of the "quartier"
of which there are more than 100. Each quartier is a little Provencal
village of its own with a church, a playing area for the game of Boules and the obligatory plane
trees. One can climb to 162 m, above sea level to
visit the church of the patron saint of sailors, Notre Dame de La Garde. One
can admire the cliffs the "Estaque" inspiration to Cezanne or go to
Treille to pay homage to the well loved Provencal writer Marcel Pagnol, From the islands "lles de Frioul" and
the Chateau d'If with its legend of the Count of Monte Cristo, one has a
beautiful view of this ancient maritime site. Sights worth visiting in Cathedral of the Major. Abbaye saint-Victor Situated on the southern bank of the Vieux-Port above the dry dock,
this abbey founded in the 5th century on the tomb of an ancient Christian
martyr played an important role in Christianity's development in the
Mediterranean between the 11th and 18th centuries. In the 14th century, Pope
Urbain V (then installed in Avignon) oversaw its fortification.The abbey's
crypt and catacombs, which contain a number of ancient sarcophagi, are open to
visitors, whilst its excellent acoustics make it the perfect venue for the
religious and classical music concerts held here on a regular basis..Admission:
free; crypt visit around EUR 1.52 Le Corbusier: Nick-named the
"
Transport to the city: There are shuttle buses
(tel: (04) 42 14 31 27) to Marseille St Charles train station (journey time –
30 minutes). Taxis are available 24 hours a day and can be ordered in advance
(tel: (04) 42 14 24 44; website: www.taxis-aeroport.com).
In Marseille, as elsewhere, ostentatious
displays of wealth are inadvisable; take care not to carry valuables that can
easily be snatched. Avoid leaving your car on the street in downtown Marseille
- car theft is endemic. Fortunately there are ample, secure, underground car
parks. Moreover there is a clean, efficient
métro system which stops everywhere you need to go in central Marseille. Maps
and information are available from any métro station.Marseille Provence Airport is located 25km (16 miles) north
of Marseilles, in Marignane. For more information look at : http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501737-marseille_vacations-i |
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