Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition brings 34 life-sized photos of his Sistine Chapel ceiling, one of mankind’s most outstanding artistic achievements, up close for what organizers call a ‘never-before-seen perspective.’ The location in Marseille is the Palais de la Bourse, down at the bottom of the Canebière. It is the …

Visible traces of Roman history weave throughout Provence, which is one of many reasons to visit the region. Below we highlight five (5) top places for evidence of the Roman era. #1 Roman Aix-en-Provence The Romans understood the need for freshwater for a settlement to thrive and survive. So, Entremont, …

Hello, My name is Angela. I want to tell you about my excursion with Virginie during my immersion in Provence. I wanted to return to Marseille during my second one-month immersion with Virginie. We started the day with a city tour. Then we visited the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. Finally, we …

The Rhône and Durance rivers are like bookends creating fluid boundaries of the Bouches du Rhône (mouth of the Rhône) while providing irrigation for the department’s agricultural land. After an 800 km journey from its source, the Rhône Glacier in Valais, Switzerland, the Rhône River yawns lazily into the Mediterranean …

In 1991, Henri Cosquer made a remarkable discovery: he found a grotto filled with prehistoric paintings. Even more remarkable is that the cave is only accessible via an underwater passageway. Diving Discovery Cosquer was a professional diver, leading underwater tours around the Calanques National Park near Marseille. He also dove …

During Angela’s French immersion holiday in Provence, we set off one day to discover Marseille’s highlights, including its Bonne Mere – Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. French Immersion Hello. My name is Angela. I’m in Provence again this year for an immersion holiday with Virginie. We decide to go …

Access to the Calanques National Park is controlled this summer due to damage to the ecosystem caused by the burgeoning numbers of visitors and increasing fire risks.  The Calanque de Sugiton, which used to attract up to 2,500 people daily, is limited to 400 entries in peak season. Pre-booking one …

Cosquer Mediterranée recreates the prehistoric cave paintings which exist 35 metres below sea level near Marseille in an underwater labyrinth investigated by speleologist Henri Cosquer. Of course, 20,000 years ago, the cave-dwellers could wander in and out of these dwellings where they drew the wildlife of their habitat: sea animals, …

I’m up early, driving to l’Estaque. Heavy traffic along the Autoroute to Marseille, but not nearly what it will be during rush hour. I arrive around 7:45, with the sun just above the horizon. Visiting Cézanne’s L’Estaque I head first to Corbières at the eastern edge of the village. Cézanne …

Bouillabaisse is Marseille’s signature dish. However, a bit like the city that proclaims to be its birthplace, bouillabaisse is a riddle. Is it a stew or a soup? Is it a noble dish or peasant food? Was it created by the invading Greeks or by hungry fishermen? Is it even …