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France

Marseille

Mediterranean Crucible
Port & Trading CitiesAncient CitiesGastronomic Capitals
Portrait

Phocaean Greeks founded Massalia around 600 BC, making it France's oldest city, and its harbour has taken in Armenians, Italians, Corsicans, Algerians and Comorians in waves that the rest of France has always found difficult. Le Corbusier's Cité Radieuse of 1952 stands on the hill, and bouillabaisse was a fisherman's dish made from what would not sell.

Nearby in the atlas
Aix-en-Provence — Cézanne's LightGordes — The Luberon LedgeArles — Van Gogh's Roman SouthAvignon — The Papal Wall
If you like this city
Thessaloniki, Greece — Byzantine ShoreColombo, Sri Lanka — The Spice WharfGenoa, Italy — Republic of Merchants
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