Our home base for this trip, Montpellier, is located on the train line between Bordeaux on the Atlantic Coast and Marseille on the Mediterranean. We've already headed over to Bordeaux for the weekend, now it's time to go the other direction and visit Marseille.
Arriving in Marseille, exiting the train station
Founded in about 600 B.C., Marseille is the oldest city in France, the second largest, and one of Europe's oldest continuously-inhabited settlements.
We first walk through town to the old port (Vieux Port de Marseille), after dropping our luggage at a hotel a block from the port.
Arriving at the port
Walking through the port, we pass Fort Saint Nicholas guarding the entrance on the south side of the port.
Fort Saint Nicholas
Across the street from the fort, overlooking the harbor is a statue to Missak Manouchian, a French-Armenian poet and communist activist who led one of the most active French Resistance groups in World War II, but was captured and executed in 1944.
Missak Manouchian
Leaving the port and walking south along the Mediterranean coast, we come across Plage des Catalans, a beach full of happy people enjoying the warm weather and water.
Plage des Catalans
Continuing south along the coast, we get beautiful views up and down the cost and of the islands across the water.
Views up and down the coast
A little farther along, we come on Vallon des Auffes, a small fishing village full of fishing boats and tempting restaurants (we'll return for dinner in a few hours).
Vallon des Auffes
Returning to the coast, we walk back toward the old port, enjoying the afternoon weather (and, a small glass of wine at a restaurant in the port.
Walking back: the sea, the port
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