International Management Program - EUROMED/Marseille-FEA/USP
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Marseille is a city with a strong heritage and one of the most vibrant on the Mediterranean. The history of France’s oldest city is an extraordinary human drama.  Since its foundation in the 6^th century BC by Greek sailors from the town of Phocaea, it has been the rival of Carthage and the protector of Rome.  If you look down on Marseille from the church of Notre-Dame de la Garde, from where the virgin watches over the town, 26 centuries of history are spread before you: the remains of the ancient harbour; the church of Saint-Victor from where Christianity spread to the whole of Provence; the ancient “Panier” neighbourhood with its typically Mediterranean way of life, dominated by the Baroque dome of the Vieille Charité; the imposing Longchamp Palace a symbol of the power of Marseille in the 19^th Century, the Major cathedral and the architect Le Corbusier’s impressive “living machine” apartment block.  Just some of the riches Marseille has acquired over the centuries.

Each of Marseille’s 111 neighbourhoods treasures its own history and individual traditions that have gone into the cosmopolitan mix that gives the town its legendary warmth and character. From l ‘Estaque, immortalized by Cézanne, to Les Goudes, the Panier and Pagnol’s beloved La Treille, Les Catalans and Mazargues, the life of Marseille is that of its 111 villages. Marseille has had the wisdom to cherish the diversity of its different communities and treat their traditions as a precious heritage.  This heritage is the “hidden beauty” of Marseille that brings a unique pleasure to those who take the time to get to know the city.

For 26 centuries Marseille has been open to the entire world.  Now, with its international airport, its 200 regular sea links, the arrival of the new Mediterranean High Speed Train link and a network of motorways that link it to all the major cities of Europe, the world is even closer to Marseille.  Marseille offers business people all the facilities of the number one industrial and service-sector centre of the South of France, as well as the prestige of its scientific community and the scale of its regional development programmes, in particular Euroméditerranée.  Marseille has always had a talent for communication. It is now putting this talent at the disposal of the increasing numbers of congress, conference and trade fair organizers who are choosing Marseille as the venue for their events.

Marseille is proud of its 60,000-seat Stade Velodrome stadium which was recently home to the World Cup.  The heart of the entire town beats to the exploits of its blue-and-white-clad heroes.    Hiking, mountaineering, diving, windsurfing, yachting, golf, tennis… the list of sports you can enjoy in Marseille is endless.  Marseille also hosts several major sporting events ranging from the “Open 13” tennis tournament to beach volley-ball, from the French bowls (Pétanque) World Championships to the Marseille-Cassis semi-marathon…  not forgetting the equestrian events at the Borély race-track and Pont-de-Vivaux and the numerous colorful regattas.

Since the dawn of its history Marseille has always looked outward to the Mediterranean to which it owes the myth of its own founding: the love between a Ligurian princess and a Phocean sailor.   As France’s chief port, sea trade has played an important part in the life of Marseille for centuries. With its 57 kilometre coastline, Marseille is also a great favourite with water-sport-men and women.  But it is not only divers, wind-surfers and sailors who flock to the city; its sun-drenched beaches also attract ordinary holidaymakers who seek nothing more energetic than a paddle.  The coast-road is dotted with follies-extravagant pleasure-houses-overlooking magical sites such as the Vallon des Auffes, and has magnificent views over the islands dotted around the Bay of Marseille.  The 20-kilometre long Calanques massif is a nature-lover’s paradise.  The wild beauty of these countless creeks and inlets draws hikers from all over the world.

With its 25 theatres, including 2 run by the French National Theatre, 10 concerts halls, an opera house, its National Ballet Company, film studios producing very successful movies and some of the most popular rap groups, Marseille is at the vey forefront of the arts.  The town also boasts some 22 museums and heritage centres of Egyptology in France, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the unique china and porcelain collection at the Musée de la Faïance, the Fashion museum, the Musée Cantini art collection, the Museum of Contemporary Art.. and the Préau des Accoules Children’s Museum.  In addition to one of Europe’s largest multi-arts centres, located in a disused cigarette factory, a number of world-class artists also have their studios in Marseille.  It also hosts several festivals of national and international importance: the Vue sur les Docs documentary film festival, the Marseille Arts Festival and the Fiesta des Suds World Music festival.

Marseille is a holiday resort in its own right and is the ideal starting-point from which to discover the beautiful villages and historic traditions of Provence.  You can take your pick of the tours on offer in Marseille: the cliffs of Cassis, the harbour of Martigues and the Blue Coast, the windmills at Allauch; Aubagne and the mountain ranges of Le Garlaban, La Sainte-Baume and Sainte-Victorie; Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Rémy de Provence, the citadel of Les Baux de Provence, the the Alpilles hills, the town of Arles and the Camargue, and many, many more…

www.visitprovence.com