Located on the Mediterranean coast of France, Marseille is a postcard seaside village with a busy harbor, deep blue water, and bright terra cotta rooftops that reflect the sunlight with warmth. But even though it looks like a postcard, it is a working city filled with hard working locals who are fiercely proud to call their city the oldest in France.

As a coastal city, seafood defines the cuisine of Marseille. The most famous of Marseille dishes is Bouillabaisse, a hearty fish broth. Many different types of fish (one of them traditionally scorpion fish in Marseille) are simmered with saffron, garlic, and an array of Provencal spices. The fish is removed from the liquid and served with potatoes or vegetables alongside steaming bowls of the rich broth. It is usually served with crusty bread and rouille (a saffron-scented mayonnaise).

The other major contribution Marseille has made to the French cooking tradition is the aioli: a garlicky sauce with olive oil and egg yolk as the base. The people of Marseille like to dip vegetables in it or serve it with dried fish. It is delightful slathered over a nice baguette as well.

Marseille is located in the Provence region of France and there are many popular regional dishes to sample. If you’re looking for a break from seafood, consider daube, a beef stew flavored with wine and herbes de Provence. For vegetarians (and all vegetable lovers), ratatouille is a lovely main or side dish of eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, garlic, and other items; it is a dish for summer when all these vegetables can be acquired fresh.

One would hope that the oldest city in France would have a historical feel and Marseille does. The Vieux Port remains busy with boats bringing in fish for pots of bouillabaisse as they have for many years. The nearby Panier neighborhood is a web of cobbled streets and medieval architecture. The Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde is accessible via the Panier and boasts a wonderful view of the Vieux Port.

The Musee Histoire de Marseille shows the history of Marseille through a variety of exhibits. Visitors can tour excavations in progress on the museum grounds where archaeologists are seeking to unearth more of Marseille past, particularly the period when it was a Greek city called Massalia. Inside the museum, you can learn about many periods in Marseille history and see a shipwrecked Roman vessel discovered in the area.

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