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| History/Old Harbour | Language | Companies | Restaurants | Fashion | Hotels | Islands |
| Monument-Museum | Habits | Development | Pubs | Markets | Youth Hostels | Estaque |
| Parks / Walks | Pastis | Conferences | Cinema | Specialities | Renting | Calanques |
| Getting around | Sport | Finding a job | Theatre-Concert | Areas | Beaches | |
| Weather | Economy | Tourist I Center | Maps |
THE ISLANDS AND THE CALANQUES
You can take one of the numerous boats out to
the islands and I highly recommend the beaches on the isle of Frioul,
from the port on arrival you can take the "petit
train" 18 FF for adults and 12 FF for children return, which will wisk
you away to The Saint-Estève Beach, it is the only one you'll find
that is regularly cleaned, watched, with first aid, refreshments, showers
and above all parasols are available (there isn't any shade). If you decide
to go by foot you'll find many a wonderful place to take a dip.
The Calanques are very famous here and you should always say "oh oui les Calanques sont très jolie" to any Marseillais inhabitant who brings up the subject. If you do plead ignorance then they will surely want to take you to see them, avoid this unless you have arranged to leave early in the morning because otherwise you'll get there when it's dark (they're not the most ponctual of people) and Les Calanques in the dark is a little dangerous. They are infact wonderful limestone cliffs, formed with little bays offering a nice place to drop anchor (if you have the chance to be in a boat) or to climb down to one of the little beaches offered within the recesses. But be warned the water may not be as warm as you think. There are sometimes cold water streams.
The Chateau d'If (If castle), even Julias Cesar noticed this island, wild, unwelcoming, what better place could you find to build a prison? In fact it started life as a fortress, built from 1527-1531 the fortress was rapidly transformed into a prison. Renowned for the fact that escape was practically imposible, apparently having emprisoned the man in the iron mask and the Count of Montie Cristo, today you can visit the prison, you'll be shown their cells, have a look at the inscriptions in the walls and go up the tour St Christophe, you'll have a wonderful view. The prison, once closed down was reopened to the public in 1890. To visit the Chateau take one of the numerous boats that leave from the vieux port, Quai des Belges (at the end of the Cannebiere)
you can go visit the site
