Cruise to France

A brief interlude in a medieval atmosphere

This beautiful port city is a charming ancient town, which developed out of a village that dates back as far as 130 BC. Here you will see colorful boats, small cozy restaurants atop the terraces offering the very best in Mediterranean cuisine.

Villefranche-sur-Mer looks as if it could have been taken from a picture postcard: red-tiled roofs together with beaches, narrow alleyways, all very reminiscent of the Middle Ages; extremely serene and exuding a sense of relaxation and tranquility.

The city has retained both its unique character and its rich history. This is a city populated by artists and painters, and contains lush vegetation, Baroque-style churches and a citadel that was built in the 16th century. The citadel has been beautifully restored and now includes a beautiful garden, three museums with wonderful collections, and will certainly appeal to anyone who comes to visit the resort city of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Relax in a beautiful place

People who enjoy markets and hunting for bargains and souvenirs will have a great time here with the collection of vibrant markets, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, wine, clothing and flowers. People who just want to take a break and refresh their minds amongst landscaped gardens will find this to be the ideal place. Villefranche-sur-Mer has an abundance of gardens. You won’t want to miss the Le Jardin des Chasseurs Alpins overlooking the city’s impressive citadel, offering visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the old town and the port.

The past has been restored to life in Marseille, France. The moment you arrive here you will discover the spectacular wealth of ancient buildings that integrate with modern and chic cosmopolitan architecture. If you wish to take a journey back in time you won’t want to miss a visit to several of the historical locations in this lively port city: the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde is characterized by its Byzantine façade and its interior space in the neo-classical style with a golden mosaic dome; it is situated on the Garda Hill and displays a breathtaking vista from its spectacular terrace.

The central cathedral is one of the more prominent monuments in the city and it integrates an ancient cathedral together with a new cathedral that has been decorated with beautiful ornamentation. It is recommended to continue the journey past the impressive Longchamp Palace which also houses the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Museum of Fine Arts; and the Palace itself which is surrounded with a lush and landscaped park, a man-made lake and fountains.

There are also a number of museums inside the city which are highly recommended, the most prominent among them being, undoubtedly, the MuCEM (The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) which is dedicated to the cultures of the Mediterranean area, and which is a magnificent architectural structure characterized by a transparent shell. The museum is located at the entrance to the old port of Marseille opposite the open sea. The collections include many everyday objects of Mediterranean cultures alongside artifacts from the past and the present – through paintings, icons and jewelry, screening of films and more.

Le Panier is the oldest and the most colorful area of ​​Marseille: steep narrow winding streets; a variety of authentic Algerian cuisine; artisans workshops and art galleries; this is a great location for a lovely walking tour of the city. Inside the quarter itself you can also visit a museum depicting the history of Marseille and the history of the city dating back to its Greek sources, through the medieval period, until the present day.

Besides the unique atmosphere and the beautiful places, Marseille also specializes in authentic Mediterranean cuisine with some of the more popular dishes being seafood, pizza and of course variations of bouillabaisse soup made from fish and vegetables, accompanied by a variety of spices such as garlic, basil, laurel and saffron – a real delight for the palate!

You cannot come to Marseille and not sail on the ferryboat to the famous Château d'If (only 1.5 km off the coast of Marseilles). The fortress built on the island of If is mostly identified with the novel by Alexandre Dumas “The Count of Monte Cristo" and was once a notorious prison until it became the very popular historic tourist destination. Today you can tour the site, listen to exciting stories, and feast your eyes on the mesmerizing landscape of golden beaches and impressive limestone cliffs.