The Port of Marseille is the capital of Bouches-du-Rhone, France. It's France's oldest port and second largest city. Located on the Mediterranean west of the French Riviera, Marseille is one of the most important ports in the region.
Port History
Cave paintings show that people lived there over 25 thousand years ago. Archeological digs found brick dwellings from about 6000 BC. Greek seamen founded the city, called Masallia, in about 600 BC, then developed trading posts inland and along the coast, founding today's cities of Nice, Arles, and Antibes.
Marseille supported Rome in the Punic Wars against the Carthaginians, reaping many benefits. But it took Pompey's side in a dispute with Julius Caesar, resulting in its loss of dependent territories. Even so, Caesar allowed the city to keep its autonomy, and it remained an important center for Greek civilization for some time.
Although centuries of epidemic and invasion left the city little more ruins, it was repopulated in the 10th Century as a shipping center and staging site for the Crusades. Provence and Marseille became part of France in 1481. The city rebelled against Louis XIV in the middle 17th Century, and the King put down the revolt, establishing Fort Saint-Nicolas in the south of the old port.
Its citizens were passionate participants in the French Revolution. In fact, the song they sang on their march to Paris, La Marseillaise, is now the country's national anthem. However, the Reign of Terror following the revolution led to the city's rebellion against the National Convention, quick suppression, and designation as 搕he city without a name.?
In the second half of the 19th Century after the Barbary pirates (see Port of Algiers) were subdued, the Port of Marseille became a leading port of the French empire. Many grand streets and monuments appeared. Napoleon III and Eugenie built a villa on the bay, one of today's favorite landmarks.
Germany occupied the Port of Marseille during World War II. A center for the Resistance, the Germans destroyed much of the Panier district in the Old Port in response. After World War II, the Port of Marseille rebuilt war-ravaged areas and developed industrial and port complexes. While the Port of Marseille continues to be an important economic center, it must compete with the city of Lyon.
Port Commerce
The Port of Marseille Authority constructs, manages, and develops the Port of Marseille. In 2006, the port handled over 100 million tons of cargo, including over 16 million tons of general cargo and over 9 million TEUs of containerized cargo. Dry bulk cargo topped 16 million tons, and liquid bulk exceeded 3 million tons. The dynamic base for the port, crude oil and oil product cargo was over 64 million tons in 2006. 2006 marked the rebirth of the ship repair industry in the Port of Marseille in 2006, particularly in the repair of industrial ships and yachts.
Cruising and Travel
The Port of Marseille is a popular destination for cruise passengers, and over 20 major cruise lines visit the city each year. In 2006, 380 thousand cruisers passed through the Port of Marseille on 51 cruise stopovers. A cruise gateway to Provence, the Port of Marseille provides easy access to historic cities like Avignon, St. Paul de Vence, Aix, and Les Baux.
