About this experience
Marseille is an amazing place where different epochs, peoples, cultures, and human destinies have intertwined. I will show you its main attractions, tell you its rich history, and help you feel the local color, traditions, rhythms of life, and multinational spirit.
What to expect
All the colors of Marseille
You will stroll through the historical center and the Old Port, see all the 'postcards' of Marseille: the Cathedral of La Major, the fortresses of Saints John and Nicholas, the Pharo Palace, Maselon Square, the Château d'If, and the basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde. You will visit unusual antique shops and traditional soap factories, be impressed by the view of the Frioul Islands, and walk down the famous Canebière street. I will also help you find the apothecary, the Diamond House, the town hall, and the building of France's oldest Chamber of Commerce.
Marseille - history and legends
You will learn all the most interesting facts about the city: why Marseille is called a separate republic, and the French national anthem is the Marseillaise; where the temple of Artemis was located in Massalia and what the king Louis the Sun did in the city; what the Noble Quarter is and why it was blown up by dynamite during the war; why Stendhal and Leo Tolstoy came to Marseille, and where the movie 'Taxi' was filmed.
About people and destinies
I will not only tell you about Marseille but also about the famous people connected with its rich history. For example, you will learn about Jacques Cousteau's first underwater explorations, the royal wedding of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, the Lumière brothers' film 'Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat,' Dumas' novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' and Napoleon I's first wife, Clary Desirée, who became the queen of Sweden.
Getting to know France intimately
I will gladly share curious facts with you about everyday life in France and the French: why parking is free on the most visited Prado beach, when the French eat cheese and drink champagne, why local women do not gain weight, the secrets of Provencal cuisine, and where the most delicious bouillabaisse is cooked.
Organizational details
No additional expenses are required.
