Discover a different side of Marseille on this free walking tour, where beneath the beautiful facades lies secrets, mysteries, and legends around every corner.
Marseille Mystery Tour
At the designated time, we'll meet at the Vieux-Port metro station, on the Quai des Belges, where the city was founded more than 2,600 years ago. This port has witnessed everything from trade to invasions, epidemics, and bloody conflicts. From this spot, we'll start our mystery tour of Marseille. Ready?
First, we'll head toward the Marseille Chamber of Commerce and the Port Antique to discover the ancient remains hidden beneath the modern city. We'll then head to the Hôtel de Cabre, one of the oldest surviving houses in Marseille after World War II that was later rotated 90 degrees, before continuing toward the InterContinental Marseille - Hôtel Dieu. The origins of this hospital date back to the 12th century, when it cared for the sick, elderly, poor, and abandoned children.
Next, we'll reach Le Panier, Marseille's oldest district. Its narrow streets have witnessed centuries of poverty, crime, prostitution, and political unrest. During World War II, the area became a refuge for Resistance fighters, leading the German authorities to order the destruction of much of the neighborhood in 1943. We'll then climb toward the Place des Moulins. Did you know that a huge 19th-century underground cistern lies beneath the square? You'll soon find out!
Afterward, we'll discover La Vieille Charité, a building that housed the city's destitute for centuries before later becoming an orphanage and hospice. We'll then pass by the Place des Treize-Cantons and the Place de Lenche as the guide shares chapters of Le Panier's long history. Then, we'll head to the Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée, also known as the Mucem, where we'll learn about Marseille's history as a crossroads of Mediterranean civilizations.
On the final stretch of our tour, we'll reach Fort Saint-Jean, whose history includes medieval religious orders, imprisonment, and wartime destruction. We'll then pass Villa Méditerranée and follow the waterfront towards the striking Marseille Cathedral, taking in the dramatic architecture and views along the way. We'll conclude our tour at the Marseille Cathedral after a total of 2 hours.
