Noailles in Marseille

Noailles is a lively neighbourhood in the 1st district of Marseille. It’s known for its diverse community of residents that come from all parts of the world. The diversity is especially evident in the cuisine and the shops in the area. Their daily market hosts colourful stores that spill out into the streets. As you walk around, you’ll see stalls of food, spices, and products from all around the world, including Asia and Africa.

No trip to Noailles is complete without a visit to Daki Ling Le Jardin Des Muses, a cultural space that offers shows fit for all ages. It embraces all forms of performing arts, including theatre, dance, puppets, and circus arts. The theatre often showcases cabarets, audio-visual projections and art exhibitions.

The Mazenod Theatre is another popular performance hall in Noailles. Established in 1934, it’s one of the oldest theatres in Marseille. You can find it close to the subway station of Notre Dame du Mont.

Noailles in Marseille - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Marseille (Read all about Marseille here)

A brief history of Noailles in Marseille

Noailles is named after Jacques de Noailles, who was a lieutenant of the galleys. He used to reside in the area along with other aristocrats. In the 19th century, the neighbourhood was filled with grand buildings, including Le Grand Hotel de Noailles. One of its most famous guests was Gandhi and his 2 goats. The local police department currently occupies the building.

Noailles is still rich in culture and tradition. As they say, eating is a great way to experience the local customs and culture. Marche de Capucins is a great place to immerse yourself in Marseille's local culture.

If you want to know more about Marseille’s cultural heritage, you can drop by the museum at Hotel Saint-Louis. It’s home to hundreds of photographs and records documenting the city's grand era.

Where to shop, eat, and drink in Noailles?

The main road in La Canebiere has plenty of places to shop, eat, and drink. At Marche de Noailles, you have plenty of fresh and healthy food choices. You can get fruits, nuts, and other treats that you can snack on while you explore Marseille. Just in front of the market, you’ll find Café Prinder, an old café terrace loved by locals and tourists alike. There are also many stalls selling kebabs, flatbread and couscous, as well as North African fabrics and ceramics.

If you want to grab a cool drink to refresh yourself, you can choose from a variety of trendy bars surrounding the Cours Julien square. At Rue d’Aubagne, you’ll find Joli Rouge – this cafe and vintage flea market is great for relaxing and listening to good music.

photo by Ingolf (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

How to get around Noailles?

Like other cities in France, public transportation is easily accessible in Marseilles. From the Marseille Airport, you can reach Noailles in about 20 minutes via taxi, shuttle service, or rental car. If you’re using public transport, you might as well get a Marseille City Pass at the airport to save money on trips.

A great way to discover Noailles is on foot as the city has many cobbled streets and narrow alleys. However, if you need to get out of Marseille, you can use an extensive transport network. The Noailles metro station is in Marche de Capucins. From there, you can reach other regions in Marseille, including Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur.

photo by Klim Levene (CC BY 2.0) modified

Geri Mileva | Contributing Writer

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