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Car Hire: Marseille |
Written by Mark Lauterwein
Thursday, 27 March 2008
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For centuries Marseille has enjoyed something of a dubious reputation as a rough edged den of iniquity, not only abroad but at home too. But France's second largest city should not only be seen as the gateway to the Cote d'Azur since she is well worth visiting in her own right. Increasingly, people are discovering this for themselves: more than three million tourists visit the great harbour each year.
The harbour is the real hub of the city. Like sentinels, the two forts Saint Joan and Saint Nicolas, built in the time of Louis XIV, watch over the port. The area is especially frenetic during the early hours when fishermen sell their catch to locals and tourists alike on the quay. Needless to say there many good fish restaurants and the local fish soup (Bouillabaisse) is a delicacy. Walking off the Bouillabaise in the evening permits a fine perspective on the waterfront with lights from the shore reflecting off the boats as they head out. The best view is to be had from the Jardin du Pharo by Fort Saint Nicolas. The Cathedrale de la Major attracts attentions sited as it is atop the hill. Built when the crusades represented a stab at a balanced foreign policy, the spire was meant as a beacon to show all comers that Christianity oversaw this Frankish terre. Today, more than a third of the city's population are of non-French descent. Many are North African and the Arabic of this region is often to be heard on the boulevards of Marseille. Cheap car hire in Marseille is simple to arrange and car hire really represents the best way of retreating from the hubbub of the town, perhaps for an excursion to one of the numerous fine beaches along the coast. An account of Marseille that does not mention the city's association with Alexandre Dumas is deficient. The Count of Monte Cristo, that great adventure of betrayal and revenge, has many connections with Marseilles: an ideal piece of holiday reading perhaps. 26.3.2008 Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Mark Lauterwein is a UK based writer.
Mark Lauterwein is a UK based writer.
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