Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Arriving to Marseille by Train

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The TGV (high-speed train) from Marseille to Paris and visa versa takes three hours it is significantly faster than driving by car or by flying.

I returned home tonight after spending a few days in Paris visiting my dear friend Laura from Colorado and then this weekend with Chelsea. 

Delightful.

Happy.

Even if too short.

 

 

"The train station in Marseille opened on 8 January 1848, on the land of the Saint Charles Cemetery.

The station is perched on top of a small hill and is linked to the city center by a monumental set of stairs.

Since 2001 the TGV has dramatically reduced the travel time between Marseille and Northern France,

traffic has increased from 7.1 million annual passengers in 2000 to 15 million in 2007 and the station is currently the 11th busiest in France."

 

 

 
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The Entrance to the train station in Marseille.

 

"The station was once a key stage on the sea voyage to Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East, before the popularisation of flying. The station, originally isolated from the city, was equipped with a grand staircase, envisioned by Eugène Senès in 1911 and opened in 1926. It is bordered by statues inspired by all the distant locations to which people sailed from Marseille's port."

 

 

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A bit of the French countryside. 

If you take the TGV try to have a ticket for the upper deck, the views are spectacular. 

I love to see how each season changes the landscape.

 

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Steps leading down to the center of Marseille.

 

 

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Marseille train station.

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Beyond the mountains in this photo is Cassis,

to the left, about thirty minutes away is our village,

to the right about a fifteen-minute walk is the port entrance to the Mediterranean sea.

 

Comments

3 responses to “Arriving to Marseille by Train”

  1. Diogenes

    Those stairs are wonderful! like Montmartre…

    Reply
  2. Jacklynn Lantry

    I have traveled on the TGV from Paris to Marseille and back again. I walked down those magnificent stairs and marveled at the statues and wandered into the city once, looking for a bite to eat. I came across a hole in the wall little dive. A counter with two tables inside, two outside. A couple men busily cooking and waiting on customers. I did not recognize their language, it was not French but some dialect of Arabic perhaps, or maybe Berber. I was drawn in because of the smell that wafted from the stall into the street. Sweet, spicy, succulent, a mix of spices I was not familiar with. I got what the locals were eating by pointing to the steamy bowls and then pointing to myself. I cannot remember how much it cost, but remember that it was very inexpensive. I got a large bowl of steamy couscous with tender vegetables floating at the surface, shiny with what I think was chili oil. Chunks of meat so tender I did not need a knife or even a fork. A spoon was enough. I have never tasted anything before or after that had such a silky, rich broth redolent with smells garlic and cumin? cinnamon? coriander? It’s still a mystery but the memory is fresh and happy and wonderful.

    Reply
  3. Leonie BUCHANAN

    We did that trip in 2010 & spent 3 nights in Marseille, Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The manager of the hotel heard us speak & asked, ‘Are you Australian?’ He had worked with an Australian & recognised the accent. My husband spent the 3 days trying to say Marseille in French…..still can’t 9yrs later, couldn’t roll his r’s😍 Happy happy memories. 💕

    Reply

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