January 11, 2010
United Kingdom to Marseille
Marseille is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in France. There are flights from the UK to Marseille from both London?s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Marseille Provence Airport is the city?s main airport and is the fourth largest airport in France. Expect to see both tourists and business travelers crowding its terminals. The city also has an excellent public transportation system.
Marseille lies on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea on the southeast coast, the Cote-d-Azur, of France. It has the country\’s largest commercial port. The Old Port that fell into disuse after the\’70s oil crises has been redeveloped into a bustling residential and tourist destination with assistance from the European Community.
The completely refurbished Old Port is now home to hotels, restaurants, bars, and caf?s, as well as a private marina. This renovated port is north of the new active commercial port, where over 100 million tons of freight?the majority of it petroleum?pass every year. Marseille\’s position as a hub for industry and trade is complemented by its excellent infrastructure for travel by air, land, or sea. It is one of the major ports of entry into France, especially popular with travelers from Italy, Spain, Greece, and the Middle East.
With its location on the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille has mild winters and hot summers. The coldest months of the year are January and February, with July and August being the area?s hottest months. Harsh, cold winds blow into the city from the Alps in the winter and spring.
The city also boasts Marseille Provence Metropolis, the second largest research center in France. The research center employs thousands of scientists.
In addition to industry, plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, museums and theaters can be found in the city. Culture lovers are especially enamored of Marseille due to the large number of theaters in the city, including la Cri?e, le Gymnase and the theatre Toursky. The Marseille Opera is also very popular, with a season from September to June.
Like other areas of France, It is well-known for its incredible food. Local favorites include pastis, which is an alcoholic beverage similar to beer made with aniseed and spice. Other popular items are aioli (mayonnaise) served on fish or hardboiled eggs, tapenade, bouillabaisse, panisse and navette. All dishes are made with local ingredients, which make them very flavorful. Many restaurants can be found in the city\’s Old Port area, which is the site of a daily fish market. The Old Port area is very beautiful at night, making it a popular spot for a long evening meal.
Beautiful architecture can also be found in the city, including the Abbey of Saint Victor, one of the oldest places of Christian worship in France, the Museum of Old Marseille and the Phare de Sainte Marie, a lighthouse on the inlet to the Old Port.
With all that the city has to offer to visitors, it is easy to see why Marseille is growing in popularity with travelers.
Tom Martens is the content coordinator for Bestukflights.co.uk the UK\’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel and Flights to Marseille
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