Discovering the real Marseille

2025 will be a cultural year for Marseille. From June to September, a tribute to the Swiss sculptor and painter Alberto Giacometti is planned at the Cantini Museum. An exhibition of sculptures, paintings and other drawings will provide a better understanding of this leading figure in 20th century artistic history, whose works are exhibited all over the world, from London to New York. One neighbourhood in particular will be featured in 2025, that of L'Estaque, in the north of the city, which has inspired many painters thanks to its luminous landscapes and colourful houses. Cézanne in particular appreciated

particularly the contrast between the white of the rock and the blue of the Mediterranean, which he reproduced in several paintings. A pictorial journey is proposed to understand the artists' perspective and where their inspiration came from. Cézanne's places in the city are the Vieux-Port, La Canebière, Marseille's historic artery, Notre-Dame de la Garde, the MuCem with its daring architecture and exhibitions, and finally the Panier Quarter. For those who know Marseille well, new discoveries are always possible. To understand its essence, it is good to set out to discover new neighbourhoods, each with its own story to tell, more or less ancient, artisans to discover, specialities to taste. Churches, fountains, Provençal bastides, old factories, these are the secrets of the 'real' Marseille that will be revealed along the way. To experience the city in a sustainable and sporty way, there is nothing better than hiring bicycles and choosing from several itineraries ranging from two hours to a full day. You can head for the Route de la Corniche, a cycle path that skirts the Mediterranean to reach the soul of Marseille in the legendary Goudes district and its fishing village atmosphere. To prolong the adventure, you can spend the day in the magnificent Calanques National Park, where limestone cliffs overlook crystal-clear water coves surrounded by green scrub.