Skylines of Marseille

Most French people don´t like highrises, especially in southern France since they claim that tall buildings would block their views of the beautiful nature. But in Marseille, there are huge amount of residential highrise for poor people and people with middle incomes in the suburbs. In the outskirts of central Marseille, there are also office highrises in a boxy modernist style. The first multi apartment complex in the world, Le Corbusier's famous Unité d'Habitation, that also was the first building in the world with a Brutalist architecture, is situated in the outskirts of Marseille. And now the city is constructing its first skyscraper, Tour CGA CGM, in the modern part of the harbour, not far from the city center. Some tall churches also help up the skyline a bit. The surrounding mountains make the skyline look interesting anyway.

Nôtre-Dame de la Garde and its views

There is a tourist train that drove us up the 162 m high limestone outcrop ( just above the historical city center) where the fascinating basilica Nôtre-Dame de la Garde stands. The train sometimes felt like a rollercoaster, since it was driving in a high speed down some hills, just next to the steep slopes!

Nôtre-Dame de la Garde is a basilica built in a Neo-Byzantine architecture and is the most dominant structure in central Marseille. It was completed in 1864.

The bell tower is 60 m tall and has a gold statue of "the Virgin and Child" on its top. 23 shiploads of marble was used for the building.

The fascinating marble, mosaic and mural interior is decorated with model boats and planes.

The views from the entrance to the basilica.

The foot of the basilica, that was designed by Henry Espérandieu, who also designed Palais Longchamp in Marseille.

The views from the basilica on the limestone outcrop:

Highrises in the eastern outskirts of Marseille with a mountain backdrop. The closest one of them is the 33-storey, 100m tall Le Grand Pavois, that is Marseille's tallest building until 2009 when Tour CMA CGA is completed.

The 24-storey Tour Mediterranée to the left is one of Marseille's tallest highrises.

The harbour and the construction site of Tour CMA CGM, that will be Marseille's tallest building and first skyscraper.

Tour CMA CGM will be 145m tall and have 34 floors when completed in 2009.

The harbour and Cathedral de la Major.

Highrises at the harbour, the Mediterranean and mountains.

Between the city and the mountains are the highrise suburbs.

The Frioul archipelago is a group of 4 beautiful islands located just 4 km outside the coast of Marseille. The one in the middle is If, the famous prison island.

If is the island where the count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned in the novel with the same name by Alexander Dumas.
The fortress Chateau d'If was built in the 1500s and had a prizon, even in reality. In the novel, Monte Cristo managed to escape to take revenge on the ones that imprisoned him.

Montagne Sainte-Victoire is a 18 km long limestone mountain ridge that can be seen from the city.

East part of central Marseille.

In the front you can see the historical buildings on the limestone outcrop where Nôtre-Dame de la Garde stands, with the harbour on its foot.

To the left you can see the Gothic Église des Réformés, where Canebière begins. To the upper right of the church you can see Palais Longchamp.

This statue can be seen on the way to the top of the hill, where the basilica stands.