Martigues
Martigues settled between the Mediterranean sea and the Berre Pond. The old town, which is often called provençal Venice, is made up of three fishermen’s villages linked together by mobile bridges. The soul of Martigues can be found south on Bresson Island, near the pond called « the birds’ mirror ». The canals, the small boats tied to the colorful houses inspired many painters including Corot and Ziem. St Sebastien’s bridge is a perfect spot to admire the landscape.
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Water is a major part of the city. The main canal (called « Caronte ») which goes through Martigues is crossed by minor ones. In spite of the presence of the sea, the town center looks like Aix-en-Provence. The private houses are charming but many larger buildings and the city hall are surprisingly modern. In Jonquière, you can find the Anonciada, a baroque styled chapel from the XVII century.
Located above Martigues, Notre-Dame-des-Marins offers a large view over Fos, Port-de-Bouc (an industrialized area) and the massifs of the region. An important collection of Ex-voto can be found there. Eventually, you should visit the Ziem museum to know more about the history of the town over 10 000 years. If you don’t want to step back in time, go wander through the peninsula and prepare to be surprised. There are a lot of features such as isolated harbors, pink linestones quarries…
If you are fond of traditions, do not miss the aquatic games happening in May.
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