Marseille, the Phocaean City
Marseille, otherwise known as the Phocaean City, is the second largest city in France after Paris. Marseille's openness to the Mediterranean Sea and its heritage as a major seaport have made it a cosmopolitan city since its origins, marked by numerous cultural and economic exchanges that still make its reputation today.
Marseille is also a beautiful seaside town with a 57-kilometre-long coastline, including 24 kilometres of the Calanques National Park, which stretches between the village of the Goudes, to the south-west of the city, and Cassis. It is one of the most remarkable sites in France and a major area of natural resources and sporting and tourist activities: each year, more than a million visitors are welcomed there. Marseille is at its best with a wide range of activities thanks to its exceptional location: water sports, hiking, climbing, diving, sailing, yachting... The city also offers close proximity to the famous ski resorts of the Hautes-Alpes, less than 3 hours away by car.
Living in Marseille also means taking advantage of a warm and dry Mediterranean climate. The city enjoys an exceptional amount of sunshine, thanks in particular to the famous Mistral wind which clears the sky. On the other hand, it never rains in Marseille, with only 52 days of light rainfall on average each year, making it the sunniest city in France.
Today, Marseille is more than ever a city open to the world thanks to the spectacular improvement of its infrastructure and accessibility. With its 10 million passengers in 2019, its international airport, mainly oriented towards Paris, Corsica, Europe and North Africa, has notably opened strategic direct lines to New York, or even Toronto and Montreal.
La Bonne Mère, the little pastis, the folkloric Vieux-Port, the bouillabaisse... all these images help to describe Marseille. However, the Phocaean City has today the assets of a growing attractiveness which pushes, in particular, Parisians and internationals to settle there. Indeed, it is a dynamic economic area with great potential and offers an incomparable living environment, between its rocky relief and its attractive beaches. In 2020, 9% of Parisians moved to the Bouches-du-Rhône department, choosing a better life, and also betting on the city's bright future.
Marseille's architecture has nothing to envy other major cities in France. Rudy Ricciotti for the Mucem, Zaha Hadid for the largest tower in Marseille for the CMA-CGM, Kengo Kuma for the FRAC are all projects by the great names in architecture that confirm the extent of its transformation.
Real estate in Marseille is proving promising. Buyers, whether individuals or investors, can easily take the gamble of an interesting capital gain in the medium term, or an increasingly solid and secure rental return. In the prestige property sector, our teams have noted that even the most sought-after areas still have unparalleled potential in France. With the advice of our team at Sotheby's International Realty Marseille, it is possible to combine a personal residence project with a strategic investment in the most beautiful areas. With its beautiful landscape, its growing economic dynamism and its extraordinary urban transformation, Marseille is today the most attractive city in France and is full of exclusive places that are still little known to people who want to settle there. It is partly our role to help you discover them.
