Old Port of Marseille

In 600 BC, Greek settlers arrived in Marseille and established a trading post on the northern shore of the Lacydon cove, now known as the Old Port of Marseille. The port remained the center of maritime activity in Marseille until the 19th century. During the Middle Ages, the land at the far end of the port was used to cultivate hemp for the local manufacture of rope for mariners, which gave rise to the name of Marseille's main thoroughfare, the Canebière.

St. Victor's Abbey was built on the hills to the south of the Old Port between the third and ninth centuries, on the site of a Hellenic burial ground. Between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, quays were constructed and an important shipyard for galleons was established. Following a revolt against their governor by the citizens of Marseille, Louis XIV ordered the erection of the forts of St Jean and St Nicolas at the entrance to the harbor and established an arsenal and fleet in the Old Port itself.

In the 19th century, the 6-meter depth of the harbor proved problematic for steamships, and deeper docks had to be constructed at La Joliette. During World War II, the Old Port was left in ruins when the Nazis dynamited much of the historic old town and demolished the gigantic aerial ferry or "transbordeur". Fernand Pouillon was put in charge of the reconstruction of the devastated old quarter in 1948.

As new harbor installations were built further northwest, many port activities were moved out of the Old Port. Today, it is used as a marina, a terminal for local boat trips, and hosts a local fish market. In 2013, for the European Capital of Culture, the Old Port was largely pedestrianized and renovated as a large public square. The project is set to have a second phase with parks to be built around the port in 2020 for a sum of €64 million.

The Old Port of Marseille is a setting that has been featured in various works of literature and film. Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the most notable examples, as parts of the story take place in both the Old Port and the Château d'If. Additionally, Marcel Pagnol's Marius, Fanny and César follow the lives of characters in Marseille, including the Old Port.

Love Actually is another work that has scenes set in the Old Port, specifically in the Bar de la Marine. Jean-Claude Izzo's detective novels also mention various bars and cafés around the Old Port, adding to the rich literary history of the area.

Ian Fleming's James Bond novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service also has scenes set in and near Vieux Port. The Old Port is also featured in Claude McKay's 1929 novel Banjo, which explores perceptions of race and culture among expatriate Americans in La Joliette.

The Old Port has also been featured in film, including The French Connection and The French Connection 2, both starring Gene Hackman. The 1957 black and white British film Seven Thunders, also known as The Beasts of Marseilles, takes place in the Old Port Quarter during the Second World War and ends with the demolition of the area.