We cruised in to Marseille past dramatic white cliffs.
With the temperature in the 30’s and the wind whipping, the best option to get into town was the cruise shuttle (15E each). The other option was to walk for 20 min to get the free port but into town. We were dropped a block from the port and walked down to where the hop on and off the Color Bus was loading and decided given the weather to hop on (15E each).
We drove past dramatic harbor views over the islands, one of which, Chateau D’if is the island where Hugo’s Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned for fourteen years.
We hopped off at the Basilique Notra Dame de la Garde, perched on the highest mountain overlooking Marseilles.
Notre Dame de la Garde
View from Notre Dame
It was a steep climb up with gale force winds whipping around us, but the mosaics in the church are gorgeous.
San Victor
Our next stop was the Abbaye Saint Victor built in the 1100’s.
Back at the port, we visited the immense Cathedral of Marseilles with elaborate mosaic floors, red and white striped marble walls, and nave after nave of arches. Each church seems to have an elaborate nativity display.
Cathedral
We visited Fort Saint Jean perched above the harbor across from the very modern museum.
Afterwards we wandered the narrow winding street of the old city, Le Panier, where we bought olive soaps and dried lavender sachets. Back at the port, we wandered through the Christmas market with a Christmas train for kids. We also enjoyed hot chocolate and fresh churros with chocolate.
