Explore Marseille with an Actor Guide: a Cultural Mosaic

Welcome to Massilia! "Come as you are," those who enter here in search of a fresh start. Your journey begins in the heart of the city, in the historic district of Le Panier.

For it is here, in the district of Le Panier, that Marseille was born in its first form, 600 years before our era. Wander through the narrow streets: getting lost is the best way to rediscover Marseille's richness. You will be accompanied by the best guides imaginable, the founders of the city, Gyptis, or Protis themselves, both of whom know the many secrets of the city.

2600 years ago, Protis, a Greek navigator in search of adventures, discovered pristine coves in the south of Gaul. There, he met the charming and intriguing Gyptis, a young Gaulish woman. Their mutual and passionate love gave birth to the city now known as Marseille. From the union of these two characters, Massilia was born, a Greek colony founded by the Phocians who gave the city its nickname: the Phocaean city. Over the centuries, many have believed they could shape Marseille in their image, constrain it, make it something it was not. 

But Marseille resists all and assimilates, mixes, and enriches. It is this richness and mixture that you will discover by following Gyptis or Protis on this unusual visit. Marseille will be revealed to you at different times in its history: in the Middle Ages, under the 3rd empire, during the colonial period, under Nazi occupation... 

So many exciting episodes of the city's history that will be recounted during this theatrical stroll. The union of Gyptis and Protis is what symbolizes Marseille in all its splendor: love for the other, arms outstretched to the stranger, and a haven for the most unfortunate. This is what our Greco-Gaulish couple invites you to discover through a visit to the city's streets.

From antiquity to the present day, traverse the time and space of this true mosaic of cultures and feel the spirit of this city that makes Marseille extraordinary.