Martigues is often referred to as ‘the Venice of Provençe’ and there are certainly parts of the old town where the jumble of pastel coloured houses with their terra-cotta roofs reflected in the still waters of the boat-lined canals give more than a passing impression of that more famous place.
Located where the Etang de Berre, an inland salt-water lake, is connected to the Mediterranean by the Canal de Caronte, the town can trace its history back to Roman times and maybe even before. There were originally three distinct settlements of Jonquières, L’Île and Ferrières but these were united in 1581 during a period of turmoil created by the Black Death and religious wars. In the 17th century the town was busy with fishing, trade and shipbuilding and was almost a rival for its neighbour, Marseille. During this period the population grew and many grand buildings, both church and secular, graced the narrow streets and canal sides.
The glory days were short-lived and in 1720 the town was once again devastated by plague and went into serious decline. It wasn’t until the opening of the Arles– Marseille Canal via the Etang de Berre between 1919 and 1930 that there was a revival in economic fortunes. There have been significant industrial developments in the area and the once-quiet fishing village now stands witness to shipping passing from the Mediterranean to factories and refineries that line the shore of the Etang de Berre. However, there are still tranquil corners where you can turn your back on the twenty-first century and enjoy a more relaxed and picturesque atmosphere.
HOW TO GET TO MARTIGUES
It is assumed that Marseille will be the base for exploring Martigues. Marseille is well-served by air services from the UK including daily flights from London Heathrow (British Airways), London Gatwick (Easy Jet) and London Stansted (Ryanair). There are frequent high-speed rail services from Paris Gare de Lyon with a journey time of approximately 3 hours 20 minutes. It is perfectly possible to travel from London to Marseille direct by Eurostar with a journey time of approximately 6 hours 30 minutes or by Eurostar and TGV via Paris with a total journey time of approximately 7 hours 15 minutes.
By train from Marseille Lavera-Martigues is about an hours journey from Marseille Saint-Charles and there are frequent trains throughout the day. However the station is quite a long way from the centre of the town so be prepared for a long walk or a taxi ride.
By car from Marseille Martigues is about 30 km from the centre of Marseille. The quickest route is to take the A55 in the direction of Fos-Martigues. Take exit 11 or 12.iuuuu
By bus from Marseille This is by far the easiest way to get to Martigues without a car. The bus runs from the Gare Routière at Gare Saint-Charles to Place des Aires which is right in the heart of the old town. It is probably best to get an up-to-date timetable from the tourist office in Marseille. The bus ride takes about 35 minutes.
Tourist information in Martigues Rond-pont de l’Hôtel de Ville, 13500 Martigues Tel: 04 42 42 31 10 Fax: 04 42 42 3111 E-mail: info@martigues-tourisme.com Website: www.martigues-tourisme.com Open: Throughout the year but times vary depending on season, best to check for exact details.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Musée Ziem Opened in 1908, during the Ziem’s lifetime, the museum presents a collection of his work together with paintings of the area by other artists. There is also a display of archaeological artifacts. Boulevard du 14 Juillet, 13500 Martigues Tel: 04 42 41 39 60 Fax: 04 42 80 33 26 E-mail: musee@ville-martigues.fr Website: www.musees-mediterranee.org Open: July and August, every day except Tuesday, 10.00–12.00 and 14.30–18.30; September–June, Wednesday–Sunday, 14.30–18.30. Free entry.
Galerie de l’Histoire de Martigues Located on the ground floor of the Town Hall this is a multi-media presentation of the history of Martigues and the surrounding area. Rond-pont de l’Hôtel de Ville, 13500 Martigues Tel: 04 42 44 36 48 Website: www.ville-martigues.fr Open: July and August, Wednesday–Sunday, 10.00–12.30 and 15.00–19.00; September–June, Wednesday–Friday, 09.00–12.00, Saturdays and Sundays 14.30–18.30. Free entry.
Cinémathèque Gnidzaz Martigues Dedicated to the history of cinema, the collection of 900 reels of film and other items was bequethed by Prosper Gnidzaz. There are short films shown every week. 4 Rue Colonel Denfert, 13500 Martigues tel: 04 42 10 91 30 or 04 42 49 44 67 Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 10.00–12.00 and 14.30–18.30. There is an entry charge.
The glory days were short-lived and in 1720 the town was once again devastated by plague and went into serious decline. It wasn’t until the opening of the Arles– Marseille Canal via the Etang de Berre between 1919 and 1930 that there was a revival in economic fortunes. There have been significant industrial developments in the area and the once-quiet fishing village now stands witness to shipping passing from the Mediterranean to factories and refineries that line the shore of the Etang de Berre. However, there are still tranquil corners where you can turn your back on the twenty-first century and enjoy a more relaxed and picturesque atmosphere.
