– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Marseille is France's oldest city.

And when it comes to statistics, it's also one of Europe's most dangerous.

I'll show you its postcard moments and also its contradictions.

For some Marseille is the epitome of sunshine

and the Mediterranean lifestyle.

While others think of negative headlines related to crime.

How safe is it?

And what should you go see?

Marseille is not the kind of city that waits politely to be discovered.

It throws you in all at once.

So let's go explore Marseille in a day.

With just under 900,000 inhabitants,

Marseille is the second largest city in France.

It's located in Provence, directly on the Mediterranean Sea.

I start my day at the Vieux Port, the old port.

This is where the city was founded more than 2,600 years ago.

Ever since, Marseille has been a trading hub

and a place where people meet.

And the Vieux Port is still the heart of the city.

Fishers sell their catch here every morning.

And morning is also the best time

to experience the harbour atmosphere as a visitor.

Over the years, the harbor district has increasingly

become a cultural hub.

The Mucem, the Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean,

is a good place to start if you want to learn more about

the history of the region.

You can also access the roof terrace and other viewpoints

around the building for free.

Even if you don't have time to go to a museum and spend hours there,

just coming here for the views and the architecture is worth it.

The Marché de Noailles market is just a few minutes walk from the port.

Here you can discover vegetables from Provence and

ingredients from all over the world,

including North African snacks.

Marseille is a melting pot of different cultures.

For centuries, immigrants from all over the world

have been drawn to the port city.

To fully appreciate Marseille, you have to climb.

Notre-Dame de la Garde is 149 metres above sea level

and is one of the most popular attractions.

The locals call the church "La bonne mére", the good mother,

because she watches over the city.

The golden statue of Virgin Mary on the basilica is currently covered for

construction, but can usually be seen from all over the city.

What a nice breeze.

And this has got to be the most spectacular view

you can get of Marseille.

Down in the Le Panier district, things get colourful.

Marseille's oldest neighborhood used to be a classic

working class district.

Today it's quite trendy with small shops and bars.

Mediterranean lifestyle.

Be sure to check out the many murals,

some funny and some political.

In Le Panier, many facades have been transformed into works of art.

If you have a little more time, it's worth taking a street art tour.

So far I've had a look at the postcard version of Marseille.

I didn't feel unsafe.

The city owes its dangerous reputation above all

to the Quartiers Nord, the northern districts.

They're home to around a third of the city's residents.

The neighborhoods are often in the headlines

for drug- and gang-related crimes, even shootings.

The city marketing department is specifically promoting areas that

tourists have previously ignored.

I want to see for myself and see if it's worth taking a trip to some of

the lesser known areas in the north.

This isn't the Marseille you see in travel ads, but there are also places

here that are historic, creative, and welcoming if you take the time to

look beyond the headlines.

You will find one of the cities most unusual cultural projects here

in a former industrial complex,

the Cité des arts de la rue.

Since 1995, artists here have been working on projects involving street art,

theater, circus and performances for public spaces.

You can also take part in workshops at the Cité.

And there's something else you absolutely can't miss.

A forgotten forest in the middle of the city!

Back in the 19th century, the citiy's bourgeoisie

often went on outings here.

Local initiatives have been working since 2016 to revitalize the area.

The highlight is the Cascade des Aygalades,

a nine-meter-high waterfall.

In the north of Marseille you will also find the Savonnerie du Midi,

which has produced the famous Marseille soap since 1894.

In the 19th century, Marseille was a soap-making stronghold

with dozens of factories.

Camille Tricaud from the factory shows me soaps that are over 100 years old.

Back in the day, the soap makers used stamps with different images

to mark their soaps.

And people who couldn't read could still buy their favorite soap

and know who it was made by.

The soap boilers produced traditional soap in copper kettles

using only olive or palm oil,

water, caustic soda and salt.

The soap master uses his tongue to test whether

the saponification process is working correctly.

So I'll try.

Yeah, it's a bit like a burning sensation on the tongue.

If you want to see the soap being made,

you have to come in the morning.

The visit to the factory and the soap museum is free,

but you should make a reservation.

Now I head back to the center,

to Cours Julien, Marseille's trendy district.

There used to be a vegetable market here,

but now it's mainly restaurants and bars.

A day in Marseille wouldn't be complete without an apéro:

That's a drink, some salted snacks and just enough time to

do absolutely nothing.

These panisses,

they're chickpea fritters and a specialty from Marseille.

And I'm trying them for the first time.

They're soft on the inside and have herbs.

And they're served with aioli, a garlic mayonnaise.

This ritual in the South of France takes place in the late afternoon,

traditionally with pastis —  an aniseed-flavored spirit,

which was invented in Marseille.

That's how locals and visitors like to unwind at the end of the day.

Marseille isn't always polished, but it's real.

And I did feel safe.

At least it didn't feel more dangerous than any other big city.

Of course, there might be some places you might want to avoid,

especially at night time.

But if you come here, just come with an open mind

and stay a bit aware.

What are your best tips for travelling and staying safe?

Let us know in the comments.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town
dangerous /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/ A2	adjective - able or likely to cause harm or injury
explore /ɪkˈsplɔːr/ B1	verb - to travel to or through an area to learn about it
port /pɔːrt/ A2	noun - a place where ships load or unload goods
museum /mjuːˈziːəm/ A2	noun - a building where objects of scientific, artistic, or historical interest are kept
view /vjuː/ B2	noun - the ability to see something or the way that something is seen
market /ˈmɑːrkɪt/ A2	noun - a place where goods are sold, especially outdoors
culture /ˈkʌltʃər/ A2	noun - the arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and habits that characterize a people or group
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an illegal act
safe /seɪf/ A2	adjective - not in danger or at risk
church /tʃɜːrtʃ/ A1	noun - a building for public Christian worship
art /ɑːrt/ A1	noun - the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination
factory /ˈfæktəri/ A2	noun - a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured
soap /soʊp/ A2	noun - a substance used for cleaning
restaurant /ˈrɛstərɔnt/ A1	noun - a place where people pay to sit and eat meals
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	noun - a liquid to consume to quench thirst verb - to take liquid into the mouth and swallow
discover /dɪˈskʌvər/ A2	verb - to find something, especially for the first time
climb /klaɪm/ A2	verb - to go up something with effort
experience /ɪkˈspɪriəns/ B1	noun - knowledge or skill from doing or seeing things verb - to undergo an event or meet with something
learn /lɜːrn/ A1	verb - to gain knowledge of something