Here’s a link to an NYT article on two of my favorite French cities. I love Paris but there is so much more to France’s beauty and soul. The beauty and gastronomic wonder of Lyon is amazing. Marseille, the second largest city in France has that gritty underdog reputation. It’s The Bronx of France and my favorite city.
Posted by
Historic Savannah, GA
1445 posts
I, too, think Marseille is an absolute gem. I absolutely fell in love with it back in 2015. I found the people to be charming, the cuisine to be excellent, and the sights were just amazing
Posted by
Folsom, California
547 posts
I haven't been to Marseille yet, but we were just in Lyon. Loved it there. Restaurants, sights, the bridges over the city.
Posted by
8809 posts
We have been to Lyon and loved it. Also, we did a wonderful 7 day Rhone/Saone River cruise that explored Burgundy and Provence. Loved places like Vienne, Arles, Avignon, Ponte du Gard and Aix en Provence.
Also loved the Cannes area and the village of St. Paul de Vence.
Marseille was a huge disappointment. Sorry, but I would not recommend Marseille over any of the other places that I mentioned.
Posted by
Paris
7411 posts
I'm a Marseille fan, but it's clearly a love/hate kind of place. If you can afford to spend a couple days out of curiosity and 'take the plunge', it's worth a shot!
Posted by
South Florida
776 posts
Like Balso, I love Marseille. To me it has more in common with other Med ports I enjoy such as Palermo, Naples, Genoa and Barcelona than it does with the rest of France. It's an acquired taste, perhaps, but coming from a Bronx like area of Chicago and living in a Bronx like area of Paris, Marseille is right up my alley so to speak.
Posted by
8809 posts
Never thought the Bronx was that great. If you like slums, go to Marseille.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
Never thought the Bronx was that great. If you like slums, go to Marseille.
They used to say that about Brooklyn too, and now look at it. It's chic. Not that the Bronx is chic .... yet. Incidentally, both my parents were born and raised in the Bronx.
And I liked Marseilles a lot (Lyon, of course, is wonderful). Yes, there are slums on the outskirts, but I don't know many cities that size that don't have slum areas.