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 old port area is now home to restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and other businesses and is primarily used as a private marina. The new port area is north of the old port area, and 100 million tons of freight pass through this port each year. The majority of the freight is petroleum. The city is a major center for trade and industry with excellent transportation infrastructure, including its port, airport and roads. It is one of the main entry points into France, making it popular with immigrants, especially those from Italy, Spain and Greece.

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.

It is also headquarters for the Marseille Provence Metropolis, the second largest research center in the country. Thousands of research scientists are employed at the Marseille Provence Metropolis.

But besides all the industry, UK travelers will find no shortage of museums, theaters, shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants in Marseille. Lovers of theater will be especially pleased by the wonderful repertoires of le Gymnase, the Teatre Toursky, and la Crie?. The opera season runs from September until June.

Like every other region of France, but perhaps a little more so, Provence is known for its incredible food. Local favorites include pastis, a popular liqueur made with anise and spice, once made with the now-banned absinthe. Other local favorites are aioli (mayonnaise) served over hard boiled eggs or fish, tapenades over grilled meats, panisse, navette, and the flavorful boiling bouillabaisse. Restaurants make all their dishes with local ingredients chosen because they are intensely flavorful. Many of these establishments can be found in the previously mentioned Old Port area, also the site of a fish market. The Old Port area is beautiful after sundown, and a wonderful destination for a romantic evening, but entirely safe for UK visitors.

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 everything that Marseille offers UK tourists, it is easy to see why it is growing in popularity as a vacation destination every year.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

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

by: Tom Martens

Total views: 7 Word Count: 538 Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 Time: 2:37 AM - 0 comments

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