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Marseille

Marseilles redirects here. There is also Marseilles, Illinois.

Marseille (English alternate spelling Marseilles) (pronounced in standard French, /mɑxˈsɛjɐ/ in local Marseilles accent) (Provençal: Marsiho or Marsilha, both pronounced /maɾˈsijɐ/) is the second largest city in France. Located in the former province of Provence and on the Mediterranean Sea, it is France's largest commercial port and the largest in the Mediterranean.

Marseille is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur région, as well as the préfecture (capital) of the Bouches-du-Rhône département.

Contents

History

Marseille was founded in 600 BC by Greeks as a trading port. It was overrun by Celts and then conquered by the Romans. During the Roman times, it was called Massilia.


Economy

Marseille has a large and busy harbor.

Attractions

Culture

The French rap band IAM is from Marseille.

The most widely circulated tarot deck comes from Marseille; it is called the Tarot de Marseille, and was used to play the local variant of tarocchi before it came to the notice of people who used it in cartomancy.

The French national anthem "La Marseillaise" is named for Marseille.

Miscellaneous

The metro is rubber-tired.

The city's main football club is Olympique de Marseille, UEFA Champions League winner in 1993 but tainted by the 1990s match fixing scandal by then-owner Bernard Tapie.

Marseille was the birthplace of:

Marseille.
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Marseille.

French poet Arthur Rimbaud died in Marseille in November 10, 1891.

See also

External links

Last updated: 08-29-2005 12:01:57