Marseille is a major port city in southern France, on the Mediterranean Sea, and is the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône department and the Provence- Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

Where is Marseille?

  • Marseille lies on the southeast coast of France, directly on the Mediterranean Sea.
  • It is west of the French Riviera and near the mouth of the Rhône River, forming one of the key ports of the Mediterranean.
  • The city is about 860 km south-southeast of Paris by rail and a few hours by high-speed train.

Quick geographic facts

  • Country: France.
  • Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur; Department: Bouches-du-Rhône.
  • Coast: Directly on the Gulf of Lion (Mediterranean Sea), with a large commercial port and ferry links.
  • Coordinates: roughly 43.3° N latitude, 5.4° E longitude.

What Marseille is known for

  • It is the second-largest city in France after Paris and the country’s largest commercial port.
  • Historically called Massalia, it is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and has long been a trading and cultural hub.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.