page_title: Marseille
section_title: Central Marseille
hierarchical_section_title: Marseille / Main sights / Central Marseille
caption_attribution_description: L'entrée de la Vieille Charité avec de face la chapelle baroque à coupole ovale C'est en 1640, suite à l'édit royal sur "l'enfermement des pauvres et des mendiants", que la Ville de Marseille, propriétaire d'un terrain situé près de la cathédrale de la Major sur le versant nord de la butte des moulins, décide de la construction de la Vieille Charité pour y accueillir les gueux. Mais le projet piétine et c'est seulement en 1670 que Pierre Puget, architecte du Roi et enfant du quartier, entame une de ses plus grandes réalisations. vieille-charite-marseille.org/ fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieille_Charit%C3%A9
context_page_description: Marseille is the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in France. It is located on the Mediterranean coast near the mouth of the Rhône. Marseille is the second largest city in France, covering an area of 241 km² and had a population of 870,018 in 2016. Its metropolitan area, which extends over 3,173 km² is the third-largest in France after those of Paris and Lyon, with a population of 1,831,500 as of 2010.
  It was known to the ancient Greeks as Massalia and Romans as Massilia. Marseille is now France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017; it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016. It is home to Aix-Marseille University.
context_section_description: Most of the attractions of Marseille (including shopping areas) are located in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th arrondissements. These include:
  The Old Port or Vieux-Port, the main harbour and marina of the city. It is guarded by two massive forts (Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean) and is one of the main places to eat in the city. Dozens of cafés line the waterfront. The Quai des Belges at the end of the harbour is the site of the daily fish market. Much of the northern quayside area was rebuilt by the architect Fernand Pouillon after its destruction by the Nazis in 1943.
  The Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), a baroque building dating from the 17th century.
  The Centre Bourse and the adjacent Rue St Ferreol district (including Rue de Rome and Rue Paradis), the main shopping area in central Marseille.
  The Porte d'Aix, a triumphal arch commemorating French victories in the Spanish Expedition.
  The Hôtel-Dieu, a former hospital in Le Panier, transformed into an InterContinental hotel in 2013.
  La Vieille Charité in Le Panier, an architecturally significant building designed by the Puget brothers. The central baroque chapel is situated in a courtyard lined with arcaded galleries. Originally built as an alms house, it is now home to an archeological museum and a gallery of African and Asian art, as well as bookshops and a café. It also houses the Marseille International Poetry Centre.
  The Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure or La Major, founded in the 4th century, enlarged in the 11th century and completely rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century by the architects Léon Vaudoyer and Henri-Jacques Espérandieu. The present day cathedral is a gigantic edifice in Romano-Byzantine style. A romanesque transept, choir and altar survive from the older medieval cathedral, spared from complete destruction only as a result of public protests at the time.
  The 12th-century parish church of Saint-Laurent and adjoining 17th-century chapel of Sainte-Catherine, on the quayside near the Cathedral.
  The Abbey of Saint-Victor, one of the oldest places of Christian worship in Europe. Its 5th-century crypt and catacombs occupy the site of a Hellenic burial ground, later used for Christian martyrs and venerated ever since. Continuing a medieval tradition, every year at Candlemas a Black Madonna from the crypt is carried in procession along Rue Sainte for a blessing from the archbishop, followed by a mass and the distribution of "navettes" and green votive candles.
caption: La Vieille Charité
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