Have you ever wondered about the quiet corners of bustling Marseille? Right here before us is the Impasse de Vigo. This isn’t just another street. It is a slice of Marseille’s soul.
The Impasse de Vigo. A name that might not ring a bell for many. But it holds a piece of Marseille’s identity. Impasse de Vigo is a small street. But it is located in France’s second-largest city. Marseille is home to more than 860000 people. That is quite a number.
Marseille is old. Very old. The city was founded by Greek mariners in the 7th century BC. They called it Massalia back then. At that time Paris was just laying its first stone.
A key product from Marseille is soap. It is still renowned today for its high quality. Soap production began in the Middle Ages. There were many raw materials like olive oil and soda. In 1688 King Louis XIV set standards for soap making. His Edict of Colbert banned animal fat. People violating his rules would be banned from the whole region.
Thereafter petrol-based soaps took over the market. Even in Marseille. By now there are only 5 original savonneries left in Marseille.
Marseille’s Old Port was destroyed by the Nazis. This happened during World War II. Fernand Pouillon restored it quickly in 1948.
Also, the city had many problems since its foundation. It was sacked by the Visigoths. Charles Martel conquered it. The Black Death hit it hard.
Since 1996 Marseille has been the World Water Capital. The World Water Council is headquartered here. Their goal is to act on water issues at all levels.
Coffee came to France thanks to Marseille. A ship from Alexandria brought it in 1644. From there it spread throughout Europe.
There is an interesting legend. It says that a giant sardine blocked the port in 1780. But it was a ship called Sartine actually.
Let’s talk about football. It is very popular in Marseille. The Olympique de Marseille is very famous. It is the only French club that has ever won the UEFA Champions League. This happened in 1993.
The port of Marseille is the biggest in France. Most of the traffic involves oil and imports. Marseille soap is the oldest product handled here.
Marseille is a city of immigration. Throughout the 20th century many immigrants came here. This was due to unstable conditions abroad.
With over 2900 hours of sunshine per year Marseille is the sunniest city in France. But summers can get very hot.
“La Marseillaise” is France’s national anthem. But it was not created in Marseille. It was created in Strasbourg. Rouget de Lisle wrote it for the war against Austria in 1792.
As we stand here in Impasse de Vigo we are connected to France. The street may be quiet. But it echoes with tales of Marseille’s long and rich history. It is a reminder that every corner of this city has a story to tell.