Cool Noons" tour : from the Mucem to the Palais Longchamp

The Cool Noons project is a European project under the Interreg Euro-MED program (sustainable tourism), the main aim of which is to improve the visitor experience for tourists and residents of Mediterranean urban areas during the hottest hours of the day. By summer 2024, the project aims to offer routes that, wherever possible, include passages through shaded and/or ventilated streets, through existing cool spots where it is possible to refresh oneself, and close to free drinking water points.

From the Mucem (1), walk along the Promenade Robert Laffont around the Villa Méditerranée (2).
Then skirt Fort Saint-Jean (3) along the seafront and Promenade Louis Brauquier until you reach two twin buildings, the former sanitary lockers (4).
Cross the Quai du Port and follow the Avenue de Saint-Jean up to Rue Caisserie.
After passing the bell tower of the Notre Dame des Accoules church (5), stop under the shade of the plane trees to admire the various buildings: the former Palais de Justice (6), the former Hôtel Dieu converted into a luxury hotel, the esplanade Bargemon (7) and, in the distance, the Old Port with the city's emblematic symbol: Notre-Dame de la Garde.
Return to the Grand' rue, where you'll pass one of the city's oldest buildings: the Hôtel de Cabre (8). Continue straight ahead, crossing Rue de la République to reach the entrance to the ancient port (9).

Two options:
-- Turn left around the ancient port, also known as the Jardin des Vestiges, or
-- turn right through the air-conditioned shopping mall of the Centre-Bourse [open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7.30pm] to reach the Cours Belsunce (10).

From Cours Belsunce, head towards La Canebière (11) to turn into Rue des Récolettes, which continues into Rue d'Aubagne. You'll pass through the colorful Noailles shopping district.
At the end of rue d'Aubagne, take the large staircase on your left, which leads to Cours Julien (12), a large, lively square planted with ponds.
You'll then arrive in the festive La Plaine district, and take a section of Place Jean-Jaurès (13). Turn left into rue Curiol, then rue de la Bibliothèque, and right into the very pleasant rue Sénac de Meilhan, which has little traffic and is planted with trees and shrubs by local residents.
At the bottom of the street, you'll reach the upper part of the Canebière. You'll pass the book milestone that pays tribute to the giraffe Zarafa, who arrived in Marseille, France, by boat and then made her way to Paris by walking with her friendly guardians! After all, it was a royal gift.
Then there's the bandstand (14), the Monument aux Mobiles, which pays tribute to the soldiers who died in the 1870 war. And at the very end of the Canebière, you'll find yourself facing the church of Saint-Vincent de Paul (15), nicknamed "les Réformés".

Follow the tramway as it winds around the Danaïdes fountain (16) and up the majestic avenue of plane trees on boulevard Longchamp. To round off this urban stroll, discover the Palais Longchamp (17), its museums and tree-lined park, built to celebrate the arrival of the waters of the Durance in Marseille.

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