Marseilles, France cruise holidays

The 'more the merrier' seems to be the motto in the artistic melting pot of Marseille. And not just at dinner, where a Bouillabaisse fish stew is best shared en masse. France's oldest (and second largest) city is a crossroads for migration, and so a kaleidoscope of history and culture has been gently simmering since The Greeks first arrived in 600BC. Of course, take in the must-see sights - the historic Canebire boulevard stretching from the Old Port to the Réformés quarter, and the fortressed Vieux-Port harbour packed with theatres, bars and restaurants; its mellow buildings staggering the hillside topped like a wedding cake with the Notre-Dame de la Garde. Then there's the romance of the Art Deco-style opera house or the crashing waves of Calanques' rugged limestone cliffs. Such beauty has inspired artists like Renoir and Czanne for centuries. But for a real flavour of Marseille, just meander. Perhaps you might discover a colourful Arab market? A sun-scorched cove? Or just the locals playing Boules under the plane trees.