Marsielle

Marseille, after Paris, is the second largest city in France with a population of 852,395 (within administrative limits) but the urban area of Marseille extends beyond the limits of the city with a population of over 1,420,000. With the large number of people living in the metropolitan area of Marseille, it ranks third amongst French metropolitan areas (after Paris and Lyon).

The city is located on the southeast coast of France and is the largest city on the Mediterranean coast as well as France’s largest commercial port. Interestingly, the inhabitants of Marseille are dubbed Marseillais.

Marseille is not just a beautiful sight to adore but is also a major center for trade and industry, with an excellent transportation infrastructure (roads, sea port and airport). The fourth largest airport in France: the Marseille Provence Airport is the base for the arrival of millions of tourists each year. Additionally, all three universities of Aix-Marseille form together France’s largest research center with a total of 3,000 research scientists.

Marseille is a city that is considered distinct from the rest of France and more importantly, is proud of those differences. These days, Marseille is a considered a regional center for culture and entertainment – featuring an opera house, five art galleries, historical and maritime museums, and several cinemas, clubs, bars and restaurants for everyone to enjoy. The city itself has also played an important role in French arts – it has been the birth place of many known French writers and poets.

Education

Being the second largest city to Paris, Marseille does not lack whatsoever in the education department. In fact, as stated previously, Marseille is home to France’s largest research center with a total of 3,000 research scientists. The city has a systematic method of educating students at any level of education. Children as young as three years old are educated in Marseille but it is only mandatory for children aged between 6 and 16 to attend schools. The curriculum places equal importance on all subjects and is mandated by the French government.
Post-secondary education starts after the age of 19 (as usual) and is highly developed in the city of Marseille as well as the rest of France. Marseille universities also offer a few courses with the option of distance education – allowing students to study abroad.

Climate

Marseille, unlike Paris, features a Mediterranean climate, with fairly mild and humid winters and mostly warm to hot and dry summers. The coldest months of the year are December, January and February with average temperatures of around 12 °C during the day and 4 °C at night. In the summer time (specifically July and August), the temperature averages around 29 °C during the day and 19 °C at night. Marseille does have a few climate fluctuations: the city is known for the Mistral in the winter, which is a harsh cold wind that originates from the Rhône valley; and the less frequent Sirocco – a hot sand-bearing wind which comes from the Sahara Desert surprisingly.

Main Attractions

Marseille, being the second largest city in France, has a lot to offer its tourists. As stated previously, Marseille is listed as a major center for history and art. The city features many museums and galleries as well as many ancient buildings of historical interest. Some of the most prominent attractions include:

Basilique Notre Dame de La Garde

One of the most distinctive sights Marseille has to offer, the Basilique Notre Dame de La Garde is a 19th century building which sits on Marseille’s highest point, just south of the Vieux port.

Château d’If

Another popular tourist attraction in Marseille, the Château d’If is perhaps best known due to its role in the book by Alexandre Dumas, “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

Demographics

Because Marseille acts as a pre-eminent Mediterranean port, it has always been one of the main gateways into France. It is due to this that Marseille has attracted many immigrants and in turn become a cosmopolitan melting pot. Currently, about one-third of the population of Marseille possesses Italian roots. The Marseille melting pot also showcases: Roman Catholics, Muslims, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox and Buddhists.