Views of Marseille from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde

View of the port of Marseille under pine trees on La Garde Hill.

The South of France is the driest region of the country. In October, it gets 8 days of rainfall in total. Unlucky for us, we got 2 of those. After leaving Aix-en-Provence, we spent about 40 minutes on the bus driving to Marseille. We stopped at the quayside, in the Old Port, a pretty yacht marina filled with waterfront cafes and restaurants. We had half an hour to walk on the Quai du Port. We spent our time wisely by visiting a pharmacy (to get some blister plasters) and venturing into a cafe for a hot beverage and a muffin to go.

Church of Saint Ferréol - Augustinians

Building on Les quais du Port

A view of the Big Wheel in the old port of Marseille.

Grande Roue de Marseille

200 steps leading up the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille.

Steps to the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde

View of Marseille from the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.

Sheltering rom the rain at the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde overlooking Marseille.

On the drawbridge of the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde looking towards Marseille.

After a 10 minute drive up the highest hill near the Old Port, we arrived at the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard was built in 1853 on the hill of the same name, located 154 metres above sea level. 200 steps are leading up to the structure, built on the foundations of a 16th-century fort. It shows off the history with its drawbridge and residual ramparts. The cathedral on top of the hill is an unmissable destination with its magnificent setting and panoramic views of Marseille.

Looking up at the back of the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.

A brass telescope overlooking Marseille at the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.

View of Marseille behind pine trees on La Garde Hill

View of Marseille from La Garde on a rainy, overcast day.

View from La Garde looking out to the Mediterranean Gulf of Lion

View of Marseille and its islands from the drawbridge in the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.

View of the Marseille harbour on a cloudy day.

View of Marseille city and harbour from the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.

The Frioul archipelago is a group of four islands, located around 4 kilometres from Marseille. Île d'If is the smallest of the islands and measures 3 hectares. Located on the island is Château d'If, a fortress converted into a prison. It became internationally famous in the 19th century when Alexandre Dumas used it as a setting for The Count of Monte Cristo.

L'îlot Tiboulen is a tiny, 30 meters high, inaccessible islet to the west of the Frioul archipelago. The remaining two are the biggest ones. The largest of those is Pomègues, at 2.7 km long and 400 metres wide and the other, Ratonneau, is 2.5 km long.

At 4 o'clock, we headed back to the ship. Typically, the journey to Toulon would take about an hour. With the afternoon traffic and roadworks outside the city, it was around 6 p.m when we finally embarked. We left the Gulf of Lion and sailed across the Ligurian Sea between Corsica and Genoa to the port of Livorno.