In the Footsteps of Saint Mary Magdalene

from Marseille City Centre to Marseille La Barasse

Stage 7

A 100% Phocéenne stopover! Your footsteps will guide you through the colorful, lively neighborhoods of this Provencal city, where the sea air blows in and dries the laundry in the windows. Enjoy a wonderful day in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene.

Stage profile

Length: 16.5 km
Ascent: 339 m – Descent: 384 m
Walking time: 4h00
Level of difficulty: fairly easy

On your way: Landscapes and relief

You start this tour in the heart of Marseille. After Saint-Victor Abbey, take the stairs to Jardin Pierre Pujet and walk up the Canebière to the church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux. You’ll pass through the Blancarde district and skirt the Saint-Pierre cemetery. At Saint-Loup, you cross the Huveaune river to enter Valbarelle. Then you’ll reach Parc Saint-Cyr and the Notre-Dame de Nazareth chapel via steep paths and crossings. After following the Pic Foch path, you’ll arrive in the Barasse district.

Must-see sights: Keep your eyes peeled

The first point of interest is the famous “good mother”: the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde. A monumental cathedral, it dominates the city and offers a breathtaking panorama of the sea and surrounding mountains. The popular and colorful Noailles district is punctuated by its large daily market and boutiques. This lively, multicultural district is made up of numerous narrow streets and Haussmann-style buildings. The Eglise des Réformés, an edifice as tall as Notre-Dame de Paris, stands at the northeast end of the Canebière in all its splendor and whiteness. Finally, the chapel of Notre-Dame de Nazareth invites you to meditate and pray. Step into the choir to admire the 17th-century gilded wooden statue of the Virgin Mary.

Where to sleep?

Marseille offers a whole host of hotels, B&Bs and group accommodation – just take your pick! La Bastide des Escourches is an original address featuring a combination of guest rooms and houses to rent. Opt for a room inside the Bastide, perfect for resting and relaxing at the foot of the Garlaban hills. The Hôtel Ibis La Valentine is also a great place for a welcome breather, promising comfort and high-quality service. The Novotel Marseille Est combines nature with luxury in a quiet and restful setting, complete with an outdoor pool and restaurant for ultimate relaxation. Nestling among trees, the Pavillon Jacques Gentil Château Régis offers a choice of dormitories and spick-and-span rooms complete with bathrooms and a refectory – a bit more basic but still very agreeable.

Find out more

Practical info

Contact: Office Métropolitain de Tourisme et des Congrès de Marseille – 11 la Canebière CS 60340 13211 Marseille Cedex 0826 500 500 (€0.15 / min) / www.marseille-tourisme.com – information@marseille-tourisme.com

Top addresses

La Bastide des Escourches

Ibis Budget la ValentineHOTEL

The hotel is ideally located at 15 minutes from the Old Port with the A50 freeway: some rooms have a nice open view and trees through the window.

Marseille 12ème

Novotel Marseille EstHOTEL - RESTAURANT

Pleasant hotel with its beautiful shaded terrace, its swimming pool and its flowered garden, it is made up of 77 rooms including 4 with access for disabled people.

Marseille 11ème

Pavillon Jacques Gentil Château Régis

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12, 3)

Words from the Gospel to meditate on

See the "Step by Step" directions