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Home » Blog » Mesmerized by Marseille and the ‘Quartier Le Panier’

Mesmerized by Marseille and the ‘Quartier Le Panier’

//  by Simon//  6 Comments

Never would I have expected to feel mesmerized by Marseille, the Old Town, and the charming ‘Quartier Le Panier‘, the oldest part of the city.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-3

It took me only a few steps up one of the narrow alleys from the old port to be enchanted.

Old houses with pastel colored shutters, laundry hanging on the lines and fluttering, pretty lampposts, pretty shops, café, and restaurants. A charming and warm neighborhood where the best thing to do is getting lost and walking looking up in the air, to the tall buildings and the deep blue sky.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-10_opt

Albeit part of  ‘Le Panier‘ district has been restored, it hasn’t lost its charm thanks to its look a little ‘fané‘, as the French calls everything withered.

Lovely narrow streets, pastel-colored shutters and that easy-going atmosphere that makes Marseille Quartier ‘Le Panier‘ so charming.

Surprisingly, apart from Rue du Panier, there were only a few tourists along the nearby narrow streets. I could hear many locals talking with the typical accent of southern France, with its warm, musical sounds.

A woman who saw me taking photos of a lovely window delightfully decorated with flowers and other greenery stopped me and proudly told me that this was her house, and the windows she lovingly took care of.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-24_opt

Maybe because it was a hot morning in July, ‘Le Panier‘ was quiet and peaceful, inviting for a stroll across the narrow alleys flanked by the high old houses, with no purpose save experiencing moments of pure bliss.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-6_opt

Like in other Marseille’s neighborhoods, the ‘Quartier Le Panier’ is a melting pot of races. One of the main ports of the Mediterranean, during the 20th Century Marseille, has been a gateway for people coming from Italy, Corsica, North Africa, Armenia, Vietnam and more nations, often as a consequence of wars and persecutions. The cosmopolite touch is part of Marseille charm, and I had the impression of a rather successful integration.

Marseille Old Town Alleys

Sadly, during World War II Marseille Old Town was plagued by the deportations of Jews and the bombings by the Nazis.

However, the history of Marseille and ‘Le Panier‘ was clouded during the Second World War, when the Jews living in the quartier were first prosecuted according to the Nazi’s racial laws and then deported to concentration camps.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-18_opt

Furthermore, since the Germans considered the winding narrow streets of Marseille old town a possible hiding place for Jews and members of the French Resistance, in 1943 ‘Le Panier‘ and the area of the Old Port were evacuated and then bombed. (If you’re interested in this sad period, don’t miss these photos of Marseille deportations) .

Enchanting Marseille Old Town_opt

Today, wandering through this picturesque area of Marseille it is hard to imagine the suffering and terror endured by so many people during World War II. Only the names of  streets – Rue du Panier (basket street), Rue des Moulins (mills street), Rue du Refuge (shelter street), are a reminder that this used to be a poor area, inhabited by craftsmen and shop keepers.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-22_opt

A pretty vintage shop celebrates on its facade Fernandel, the French comedy actor born in Marseille who played Don Camillo, the fanatical catholic priest constantly at odds  with  Don Peppone, the communist  mayor of the town, in the popular series filmed between 1952 and 1965.

Marseille Quartier du Panier-16_opt

A bright and colorful wall painting invites for an apéro, likely the traditional Pastis, the anis-flavored apéritif very popular in southern France. Along the Rue du Panier, picturesque small shops and cafés let me have a little jump in the past. No department stores or luxury boutiques in ‘Le Panier‘. And it’s precisely the air of ‘older times’, the touch of authenticity of this part of Marseille, that I found enchanting.

Marseille Old Shops_opt

Have you visited Marseille and the ‘Quartier Le Panier’? How do you like this kind of old neighborhoods?

Practical Information:
Getting there: Marseille can be easily reached by plane either directly or via Paris, and  by train (the high-speed TGV connects the main cities across France).

Where to sleep: Don’t miss the trendy Mama Shelter Hotel, with its awesome décor designed by Philippe Starck and the lively atmosphere.

Going to ‘Le Panier‘: The best way to explore this area (see Map here) is walking aimlessly through the narrow streets. If you don’t feel like strolling, the Little Train (Petit Train) runs from the end of the Old Port every 30 minutes from April 1st to November 15th.

_______

Note: My visit to Marseille was part of a beautiful road trip across Provence thanks to the hospitality of Atout France Italia and Provence Guide. Opinions and feelings, as always, are mine only.

 

More reading: Walking the Breathtaking Ochre Trail, the ‘Provence Colorado’ 

 

Simon

Travel addict and passionate about photography, Simon Falvo started Wild About Travel back in 2009. Leveraging her strong PR background, she developed an extensive knowledge of Digital Communications and Social Media Marketing. Besides travel writing Simon holds workshops and trainings, she collaborated with tourism boards for digital marketing campaigns and participated as a speaker at several events.

Category: FRANCETag: europe, fascinating cities, street art

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. memesullaluna

    at

    Marseille left me with no words ! I have been there for over a week and loved everything about it : the people , the weather and the impressive feeling of bein home…away from home

    Reply
    • Simon Falvo

      at

      I’m so glad you enjoyed Marseille as much as I did. Many people just skip it, because they think it’s not interesting or too dangerous, but the truth is that it is enchanting (at least, it was to both of us…)

      Reply
  2. Traveling Ted

    at

    I have always been intrigued with Marseilles, but I have never had the chance or time to visit. I was in Provence, but did not make it to Marseilles. It sounds and looks like a city that is très interéssant.

    Reply
    • Simon Falvo

      at

      It was a surprise to me, and I wonder how it would be for you. I reckon it’s the kind of city that people either love or hate. Hard to remain aloof…

      Reply

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simon-falvo

Hi, I’m Simon!

A solo and independent traveler for over 20 years, and a 50+ girl young at heart.

I worked for over a decade in Investment Banking, then a few years in one of the largest international PR groups. In 2009, after a burn-out, I left the corporate world and started a new adventure.

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