Vieux Port – Old Port

Picture this: more than 2,600 years ago, the Phocaeans landed here and founded the city of Massalia, which is now one of the three largest cities in France. The port of Marseille has a history spanning 26 centuries! No wonder it’s a favorite hangout for locals and a must-see for visitors from all over the world. With its traditional fish market, lively bars and restaurants lining the docks, and colorful fishing boats bobbing up and down, it’s perfect for a pleasant waterfront stroll. But get this – this very spot is also where a famous, yet rather peculiar, French saying was born. Ever heard the story of the sardine that blocked Marseille’s port? Yes, you heard that right. But it doesn’t quite make sense – a tiny sardine shutting down the entire port? Well, truth be told, it wasn’t actually a sardine, but a warship called the “Sartine” that caused this big mess. Makes more sense now, right? This warship actually sank in the port of Marseille after a navigation error. It ended up stuck right in the entrance channel, preventing any ship from entering or leaving the port for hours on end. After that whole ordeal, the locals, with their typical sense of humor, twisted the name “Sartine” into “sardine”, which ultimately led to this popular saying, as far-fetched and exaggerated as it may sound! So after all, “C’est la sardine qui a bouché le port de Marseille!”, aka “A sardine, of all things, blocked the port of Marseille!”. The saying’s not super common these days, but if you ever hear it, you can brag about knowing the fun little story behind it. On that note, I’ll leave you to soak up that fresh sea breeze at the Old Port!