DESCRIPTION
Marseille is the second-largest city of France and forms the third-largest metropolitan area, with 1,516,340 inhabitants at the 1999 census and 1,605,000 inhabitants in 2007 (Paris and Lyon are larger). Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it is France's largest commercial port. If Marseille, France looks like something out of a painting you’ve seen, you’d be correct. The famous artist Cézanne put the beauty of this Mediterranean port city on canvas, and that beauty is still much-appreciated by tourists to the city. The landmark attraction for the city is Notre Dame de la Garde, the church that overlooks the city from a hillside near the water. The church pays homage to the city’s maritime past. Fishermen had their boats blessed at the church, and now boats decorate the interior. The Canebière, a promenade around the Old Port, is a nice place for an evening stroll by the sea. There are beaches in the area, though Marseille isn’t famous for its sandy shores. They are a nice break however, during the warm summer months