The second largest city of France, Marseille is also the oldest one, stretching back all the way to antiquity. Add to that a dreamy location by the sea, a coveted Mediterranean climate and the influence of many cultures brought by the constant flow of immigrants throughout the centuries, then you can see why the capital of the Provence-Côte d’Azur region can easily become a vacation destination in itself.
Summer is a busy time for the South of France, when hordes of stressed out visitors converge from all around the world to relax and explore. But for the past 11 years, Marseille has gone one step further by offering its “Activités sportives de plages” (“Beach Sporting Activities”) from the first weekend of July to the last weekend of August. So once you’ve marveled at the historic sites and unwounded on the warm sand, you will have to the perfect opportunity to get back in shape and have fun at the same time with more than 23 activities divided into three categories.
Among the aquatic options you can, for example, test your skills at water polo or good old swimming, keep fit with aquagym or be plain silly with body-boarding.
The nautical buffs will be able to go on an adventure in a pirogue or a paddle.
But it is on the ground that choices truly abound: from the local tradition of pétanque (or bocce) to the Chinese martial art of tai chi, without forgetting archery, skateboarding, boxing, rugby and more, feel free to go knock yourself out!
Then you have the latest summer craze: the aquagliss, where children will throw themselves on a water-covered carpet to slide along and end up in a pool.
But before deciding on the activities you’re ready to tackle, you will have to choose on the Marseille vacation rental you want to live in, and the range can be just as wide.
A large group of up to eight people will be totally comfortable in our light-filled, fully furnished, 5-bedroom vacation rental in Marseille East, Provence – PR 847. It is just impossible to get enough of the garden, terrace and pool.
If you’re a smaller party who needs to be downtown, our surprisingly quiet, attractively slick, fully furnished 2-bedroom apartment in Marseille Center, France – PR 891 is located near the famous Vieux Port (Old Harbor), which you can partly see from the balcony (That’s when the location on the 5th and 6th floors comes in handy).
If all you wish for is an inviting pied-à-terre, our fully furnished Studio – Marseille La Canebière, Provence – PR 1033 will suit your every need. Smack on the city’s fancy main thoroughfare La Canebière, you will be a short distance from the Vieux Port and the Saint Charles train station. The central location will enable you to get anywhere effortlessly and swiftly.
If you’ve been to Marseille, you must have stories to tell. Would you care to share them in the Comments section below?
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