Marseille

Southern France, France

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Marseille, located in southern France, is the country’s oldest city, founded around 600 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea under the name Massalia. It quickly became a major trading port and a key hub in the western Mediterranean, maintaining independence through alliances and wars, including siding with Rome during the Second Punic War and later losing autonomy during Julius Caesar’s civil war.

Over centuries, Marseille experienced prosperity, decline, and recovery, shaped by its strategic location, involvement in the Crusades, and rebuilding efforts after events such as the sack by the Crown of Aragon and the Great Plague of 1720.

The city played a pivotal role during the French Revolution, giving its name to France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise. In the modern era, Marseille grew as a vibrant industrial and cultural center with a diverse population, significant immigration from former French colonies, and famous landmarks like the Old Port and the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. Today, it remains a bustling Mediterranean port renowned for its rich history, cosmopolitan character, and cultural vitality.