Marseille: Independent, Industrial, and Mediterranean

Stubbornly independent, haphazardly beautiful, and entirely unconcerned with the opinions of others, Marseille is the most un-French of French cities. Located on the south coast of the nation, Marseille and its rambunctious, blue-collar roots make it feel a world away from the extravagant collection of yachts and villas that make up nearby Nice and the Cote d’Azur. From its origins, Marseille was a city that had a knack for making itself heard and for ensuring that, by accident or design, it was at the center of events.