2016-08-21 Vieux Port, Marseille, Provence, France
Today we get the bikes out to do our own tour of MarseilleMarseille’s new impressive architecturally designed Museum with a simplistic overhead walkway crossing over from Fort JeanThe Museum of Civilisations from Europe and the Mediterranean (MuCEM)The mistrale wind that was forecast today arrived and we were very pleased we were safely in port todayThe magnificent Cathedrale de la MajorHaving a fear of heights, I will not be buying a ticket on the iconic ferris wheel by the harbourToday we are on our bikes under the massive mirror of OmbriereA fleet of cute little boats all lined up in the harhourOur new Australian acquaintenaces are still in port this morningThe dome from the Cathedrale can be seen across the harbour to the north sideThe Abbaye of Saint Victor is one of the most beautiful, historical and oldest buildings in MarseilleFortunately our electric bikes are strong enough to tackle most steep hillsWith a little bit of assisted pedalling we make it up to Notre Dame de la GardeThe views are extaordinary from hereThe belltower of the Notre Dame de la Garde with the gold Virgin Mary can be seen from all of MarseilleThe interior of the church is certainly quite beautifulCommunion was in progress during our brief visit todayA wonderful view over Iles de Frioul and Ile d’If and the choppy sea from the mistraleThe conspicuious ferris wheel of MarseilleThe wind was blowing extremely strongly while we were visiting Notre Dame de la Guarde, Ric trying to stand uprightVieux Port and the commercial port can be seen in the distanceLooking from the distance, it shows the incredible number of boats in the Vieux Port harbourThe easy part is riding down and hoping the brakes keep working!!We make our way down towards the coast roadApproaching Vallon des Auffes and looking down towards it’s tiny harbourWe arrive at the Memorial dedicated to fallen soldiers of the Eastern Army and the far territoriesThe rail by the memorial was a good place to lock the bikes against securelyVallon des Auffes can be reached by steps beside the memorial or across the road by the old entranceVallon des Auffes is a small old picturesque fishing villageThe village is situated by the Endoume district of MarseilleIn recent times a few very good seafood restaurants and a couple of quaint shops have developed here in Vallon des AuffesThe small outer harbour is flanked by a row of tiny quaint fisherman cottagesNot a lot of room for any more boats!!!Off the tiny harbour are some old swimming baths which are used mainly by the localsLooking south west from the elevated memorialThe mistrale is still blowing strongly as a yacht makes it’s way towards the portLooking north east along Anse des CatalansDangerous jumping off the rocks here today!!Definitely safer with a lot of company on Anse des CatalansCycling back to the port we stop to view the thousands and thousands of boats in Vieux PortThe Theatre de la Criee was originally the site where wholesale fish was sold and now is a well known theatre for performing artsAlways crowded L’Ombriere de Marseille, great for shade, shelter and for photos The controversial mirrored shade structure was completed in early 2013The iconic ferris wheel has to be one of the most photographed wheels around!!A two storey merry-go-roundHaving the bikes makes it easier to get around in Marseille
We ride along the tram tracks of Rue de RomeWe reach the magnificent fountain of Castellane SquarePorte d’Aix, a triumphal arch in Marseille which was built around the early 1800’sAix Marseille Universite is nearbyGood views looking south to Vieux PortThere is no shortage of old churches to visit while visiting MarseillePavillion DavielAfter a long day of riding around Marseille and visiting many sights we return to the Tangaroa for a very quiet night
Leave a Reply