20 activitati in Marseille, FRANCE

Your personal driver will meet you at the pier exit of Marseille port to start your private shore excursion. We’ll take a leisurely stroll along the Cours Mirabeau, marvelling at the mansions, in Baroque splendour, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Aix has an abundance of religious sites, historic Baroque architecture, shimmering fountains and a multitude of shops all worth visiting. Famous for its open-air markets, the vendors of Aix seem to cater to everyone. The birthplace of Paul Cézanne, Aix welcomes art lovers to their fabulous city. Visit his self-designed studio and the house where he lived and began his illustrious career. After the tour, your driver will meet you and transport you back to the ship.

A listed heritage site, and a winner of a number of titles including “One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France”, you can’t help but love this Provencal village, with a unique atmosphere and fragrance. Small squares are dotted around the village, adjoined by narrow streets lined with small shops and shady terraces. Unravel, layer by layer, the rare treasures such as the church of St Vincent, channelled into the rockface, the painted Chapel of the White Penitents, built in the mid 17th century and the castle on the top overlooking the Valley des Baux. You can reserve an optional visit to an authentic olive mill where you will be guided through the stages of manufacturing the precious oil, and given the opportunity to taste the precious oils. If you wonder what to do when you arrive at the port of Marseilles, Les Baux de Provence is definitely a pleasant idea.

Leave the Marseille port with your private driver who will drive you via the medieval walls to show you such wonders as the Pope’s Palace, the Notre-Dame des Doms and the ramparts running to the Saint-Benezet Bridge, on this tour dedicated to all lovers of history. The Saint-Benezet bridge, legend has it, was built by a young shepherd named Benezet in the 12th century. Apparently, he heard voices urging him to build the bridge, and he completed it in 1185. Keep your camera handy as the bridge is a thing of beauty. Then we’ll visit The Pope’s Palace, or Palais des Papes. This massive symbol of 14th-century Western Christianity is the largest gothic palace and medieval fortress in Europe. Built in less than 20 years it was occupied by seven popes, plus two popes of the Papal Schism before the papacy was returned to Rome. If you are a history fanatic, this excursion is for you. Once the tour is over, your driver will transport you back to the ship.

For some, Cassis is the best-kept secret in France, located between Toulon and Marseille, for its gorgeous beaches and its incredibly beautiful fishing port. Next, as an option, we will board a boat for a 45-minute trip to the three Calanques, Port Miou, Port Pin and Port En Vau. Nestled in high limestone cliffs, and located between Cassis and Marseille, these picturesque coves also have beaches or harbours with marinas.