Marseille is the second largest city in France after Paris where owning a property can reflect yet another different way of French life. The Vieux-Port is also France’s main port with the old harbour enjoying comprehensive seafood related industries including plenty of restaurants.

Marseille is divided into sixteen arrondissements which spiral out from the focal point of the city, the Vieux- Port and its surrounding areas are full of beautiful aging churches which include the Église St-Trophime in Arles, where Frederick Barbarossa was crowned the king of Arles in 1178. Paul Cezanne also lived in Aix-en-Provence for a period in of his life with his former home, Atelier de Cezanne being a museum displaying his life's work.

To the north of Vieux- Port lies the old town of Le Panier where you will find the original Greek settlement of Massalia.

The boulevard leading from the top of Vieux-Port is La Canebière is the central dissection to the East and West of the town.

Centre Bourse and the little streets of quartier Belsunce border the north end of Marseille and the main hub of shopping streets lie to the south.

The North and South dissection of the city is rue d'Aix which soon becomes cours Belsunce then leads to rue de Rome, the av du Prado and lastly the boulevard Michelet .

The place Jean-Jaurès and the fashionable cours Julien is a lively part of Marseille which lies to the east of rue de Rome. From the headland west of the Vieux-Port, the Corniche heads south past the city's most favoured residential districts towards the beaches and promenade nightlife of the Plage du Prado.

15-21: Algeria will be the "guest of honour" at Marseille's annual international trade fair where more than 40 other countries will also be represented. Delegations from around the globe will descend on the Parc Chanot for the Foire Internationale, designed to boost economic and cultural ties between nations. Business meetings and conferences, displays of arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, tourism itineraries and activities for the kids are on the agenda. Tel. +33 (0) 4 91 76 16 00.

Marseille's main boulevard is The Canebière. Although a little faded, intricate façades and balconies on the multi-storey townhouses remain and it makes an interesting walk past busy department stores, Middle Eastern sandwich bars and kebab shops. About half-way down is the Torrefaction Noailles (56 La Canebière), a sophisticated café offering an extensive selection of tea, coffee, hand-made chocolates and cakes, including lemon tart. The Canebière leads to the Vieux Port where lively bars and restaurants offering fish specialities line the quayside. Pause for a drink at Le Bar de la Marine (15 Quai Rive Neuve), where Marseille-born writer Marcel Pagnol set his classic trilogy of 'Marius', 'Fanny' and 'César'. Not far away is the restaurant Les Echevins (44 rue Sainte) that serves delicious bouillabaisse, Marseille's famed fish soup. East of the city centre is the Plages du Prado where a modern restaurant complex offers everything from quick burgers to classy Italian meals. At Pizza Borely (148 avenue Pierre Mendes France, 8th arrondissement) you can choose from their vast array of pizzas, salads, pasta or meat dishes. Next-door is Le Greenwich (142 avenue Pierre Mendes France), popular with young couples and families who can comfortably eat outside on the terrace.

A short ferry ride from the Vieux Port lies the windswept Château d'If. It was from the island's fortress that Edmond Dantes escaped in Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo". The chateau was used as a state prison in real life, and visitors can tour the cells accompanied by sound tracks from old Monte Cristo movies that surge and echo through the dungeons. Nesting seagulls and Sicilian lizards bake in the sun, and swimming off the rocks is hard to beat. A parasol is a good idea, or there's some shade at the island's Café/Snack. If you need a hat, look no further on the mainland than La Chapellerie Marseillaise (5 cours Saint-Louis). The French have always excelled at making lingerie, and the saucy outfits at Frissons (2 rue Grignan) are irresistible. Shopping done, Marseille offers plenty of nightlife, and Le Bazar (90 bd Rabateau, 8th arrondissement) regularly receives the cream of European DJ's and holds "soirées gay" on Sunday nights. A mixed crowd congregates at Le Passe-Temps (Centre Commercial Grand V, 9th arrondissement), known for its good music and party atmosphere.

Marseille Provence Airport
BP 7-13727
Marignane cedex
Phone: 33 4 42 14 14 14
Fax: 33 4 42 14 27 24
The airport is situated in Marignane/Vitrolles on the edge of the Etang de Berre, 20 km northwest of Marseille. (Information: +33 (0) 4 42 14 14 14)

Bus: The shuttle bus outside the airport's main entrance runs every 20 minutes and will take you to Marseille's central railway and bus station, the gare SNCF St Charles on the northern edge of the 1st arrondissement on esplanade St Charles. One-way tickets cost € 8.5.

Taxi: Fares during the day to the central city are € 36.83 and € 45.97 at night.

Car: It takes 25 minutes to drive to the centre of Marseille, via the clearly indicated A55 autoroute.