Martigues
11 January 2007
Martigues, about 30 km west of Marseilles, is often described as the Venice of Provence. We’re not too sure about that! But it is certainly worth a day or two visit if only to see the beautifully restored Ēglise de la Madelaine.
Initially located on a small island in a broad outlet of a lake into the Mediterranean, the city expanded to fill both banks of the mainland thus creating two “canals” within the city. A third canal bisects the island. It is the three canals that allow the flacks in the tourism office to lay claim to the title of Venice of Provence.
One canal hosts a large marina.
We loved this sign, forbidding fishing, juxtaposed next to commercial fish nets that have obviously been used since they’re drying on the quai.
The canal bisecting the island is the most picturesque, and almost justifies referring to it as Venice.
Even a few of the requisite gondolas, but no gondoliers in sight. Not even a gigolo, only some 40 somethings eating lunch in the sun.
Who remembers 40? All our children, nieces and nephews are either 40 or pushing 40. Maybe they're having lunches in the sun. We are, even though 40 is a memory, not an act.
L’Ēglise de la Madeleine was built around 1670 and refurbished in 1997. Its baroque style shines once again.
Hi sailor! Are you new in town? Marie-Claire looking for a gondolier – or a gigolo.
It must be an interesting feat walking across the floors in this leaning house in the middle of the night, especially after two bottles of Bordeaux.
There were no legal facilities for motor homes in the center of Martigues so we drove about 8 km to a suburb on the coast, Carro.
While we saw some great windsurfing, had a pleasant walk through this small town, watched kids coming out of school and were entertained by a great sunset, our home beside the sea started to rock and roll so much about 1 AM that we moved it into a dip behind some houses and then slept peacefully through the night.
Martigues, about 30 km west of Marseilles, is often described as the Venice of Provence. We’re not too sure about that! But it is certainly worth a day or two visit if only to see the beautifully restored Ēglise de la Madelaine.
Initially located on a small island in a broad outlet of a lake into the Mediterranean, the city expanded to fill both banks of the mainland thus creating two “canals” within the city. A third canal bisects the island. It is the three canals that allow the flacks in the tourism office to lay claim to the title of Venice of Provence.
One canal hosts a large marina.
We loved this sign, forbidding fishing, juxtaposed next to commercial fish nets that have obviously been used since they’re drying on the quai.
The canal bisecting the island is the most picturesque, and almost justifies referring to it as Venice.
Even a few of the requisite gondolas, but no gondoliers in sight. Not even a gigolo, only some 40 somethings eating lunch in the sun.
Who remembers 40? All our children, nieces and nephews are either 40 or pushing 40. Maybe they're having lunches in the sun. We are, even though 40 is a memory, not an act.
L’Ēglise de la Madeleine was built around 1670 and refurbished in 1997. Its baroque style shines once again.
Hi sailor! Are you new in town? Marie-Claire looking for a gondolier – or a gigolo.
It must be an interesting feat walking across the floors in this leaning house in the middle of the night, especially after two bottles of Bordeaux.
There were no legal facilities for motor homes in the center of Martigues so we drove about 8 km to a suburb on the coast, Carro.
While we saw some great windsurfing, had a pleasant walk through this small town, watched kids coming out of school and were entertained by a great sunset, our home beside the sea started to rock and roll so much about 1 AM that we moved it into a dip behind some houses and then slept peacefully through the night.
posted by Retired and on the Move | 7:27 AM
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