Marseille: Old Town's Walking tour for Cruise travellers｜France

You are a cruise passenger looking to quickly discover Marseille on your stopover ? This tour is made for you! Meet your guide at Place de la Joliette, near the port terminal. Begin your journey at the Mucem, a modern architectural marvel designed by Rudy Ricciotti. Learn how its black perforated concrete evokes the shadows on the water, symbolizing a bridge between past and modernity.

Cross the bridge to Fort Saint-Jean, a fortress built in 1660 by Louis XIV to control the rebellious city. Discover its history as a barracks and revolutionary prison, and take in views of Notre-Dame de la Garde and the port entrance.

Next, visit the Cathedral La Major, a unique Romano-Byzantine structure built between 1852 and 1893. Admire its Italian mosaics, Carrara marbles, and green stones from Florence, and learn about its role as a statement of wealth during Marseille’s colonial golden age.

Continue to Le Panier, Marseille’s oldest and most authentic neighborhood. Hear about its Greek origins, destruction in 1943, and reconstruction by Fernand Pouillon. Experience its multicultural atmosphere, with influences from Italians, Armenians, Comorians, and North Africans.

Finally, head to the Vieux-Port, where Greek sailors from Phocaea first dropped anchor 2,600 years ago. Learn about the port’s evolution from Greek to Roman, medieval, and contemporary times. Take photos of the Mucem’s reflection in the water, blue boats, and ferries.

Then, be brought back to the Terminal J4, helping you to enjoy a relaxed end of day at your boat.

Please note that you can reach the meeting point of the tour with a free shuttle coming directly from the port terminal.