HISTORY OF MARSEILLES...

Marseilles developed around a remarkable natural harbour formed by the Lacydon inlet. It was fonded in the 6 th century B.C. by greek mariners from Phocea in Asia Minor, who alled themselveswith the ligurian inhabitants in a settlement called Massilia.

For the Phoceans, Massilia became a center where tin, mined in the Britsh Isles and carried down the Rhone Valley, reached the Mediterranean Sea. Other greeks driven from southern Spain by the carthaginians sought refuge in Marseilles and helped to make in a major trading center linking the mediterranean ans Western Europe.

During the roman period, Marseilles was know for in intellectual activity. It was christianized very early, and Cassianus fonded the Saint Victor monastery in the 5th century.

The Vieux Port (old harbour) of Lacydon was the only port until the late 19th century when work began on the new artificial harbour of the Joliette, which now extends as far as Estaque? The port facilities were destroyed by the retreating german army in 1944, and were only completly rebuilt after of decade of effort.

Marseilles today is a diversified industrial center (oil refining, petrochemicals, steel, metallurgy, construction and public works, food industries), but remainsturned towards the sea, with shipbuilding and repairs and seabedoil explorations. The industrial center of gravity now extends far to the West around to the Etang de Berre ans gulf of Fos-sur-mer and to the East towards Aubagne.

The Marseilles Marignane International Airport is a one of the busiest in Europe.