Marseille ain't no fairytale city, but it has loads of character.

Marseille is a gritty, cosmpolitan port city on France's Mediterranean coast.

The hub of life in Marseille is the busy Old Port, bustling with fishermen and shoppers snapping up the catch of the day at the morning fish market. The old Le Panier quarter lies to the north of the Old Port. Towering above the town is the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde; this church is said to offer protection to sailors.

Marseille has plenty of cheap accommodation. Upmarket hotels can be found to the north of Le Canebiere, Marseille's main drag.

With the opening of the high-speed rail line between Paris and Marseille, the 780km journey has been reduced to three hours.

The international Marseilles-Provence airport lies 28km from the city centre.