For the end of the year, we’re heading for the south of France, under a beautiful November sun. I invite you to discover this city if you’re not familiar with it, with two posts covering the Vieux Port and Panier areas.

These are areas of the city that have undergone major renovation work over the last ten years or so, particularly since Marseille’s nomination as European Capital of Culture 2013.

For this first post, we head for the Vieux Port and the Moerne cultural district that has been developed at its end.

We arrive at Saint Charles station, with its monumental staircase leading down to the city centre, the Canebière and the port.

On arriving at the Vieux Port, you will discover the Norman Foster shade structure (the architectural firm behind The dome of the Bundestag in Berlin), a stunning play of mirrors between sky and earth:

The next stop is the Mucem (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisation) and the reproduction of the Cosquer cave, both located in very modern buildings facing the sea.

The reproduction of the Cosquer cave is housed in the basement of the Villa Méditerranée (architect Stefano Boeri), which has given this building a second life. An educational trail is located on the top floor, in a glass gallery with a view of La Major cathedral.

The Mucem (designed by Rudy Ricciotti in association with Roland Carta) is just next door, with an architecture that blends materials and a façade of glass and metal.

The upper part of the museum is connected to Fort Saint Jean with a roof garden… and once again the view of La Major.

The Cathedral de la Major is never far away, with its remarkable neo-Byzantine style, and is located at the foot of the Panier district, which links up with my next post on a street art walk in this area.