Unraveling beneath your feet is Traverse Valette. This unassuming road holds secrets of a city with a history stretching back over 2,600 years. Imagine the stories it could tell.
Traverse Valette resides in Marseille. Marseille is the oldest city in France. It was founded by Greek mariners in the 7th century BC. They called it Massalia. Paris was just laying its first stone while Marseille was already thriving.
Even before the Greeks, prehistoric humans inhabited this area. 30,000 years ago, people lived where Traverse Valette now exists. They walked this land long before streets had names.
Marseille has seen its share of turmoil. It was sacked by Visigoths. Charles Martel conquered it. The Black Death hit it hard. Yet, Traverse Valette, and Marseille, endured.
Marseille’s port is the biggest in France. It’s a major hub for trade. Coffee even came to France through Marseille. A ship from Alexandria brought the beverage in 1644.
Did you know Marseille is the sunniest city in France? It gets over 2,900 hours of sunshine each year. That is far above the French average. The sun warms Traverse Valette almost every day.
Marseille has a unique link to Los Angeles. Once upon a time, a mayor of Los Angeles came from Marseille. Joseph Mascarel tried to ban weapons. His term lasted only one year.
Football is huge here. The Olympique de Marseille is a mythical club. It’s the only French team to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993.
The French national anthem is linked to Marseille. It is called La Marseillaise. But it was created in Strasbourg. Rouget de Lisle wrote it for the war between France and Austria in 1792.
As you stand on Traverse Valette, think about Marseille. Think about its history. Think about its culture. Consider its people. This city has seen it all. And Traverse Valette silently remembers.