Marseille

[DPK]

Hello all,

I am looking for some advice and information on Marseille please.

I have been travelling in France since early February, am now in Bages in Aude, and have been staying in short term lets.

I would like to spend six months in Marseille, UK passport, and would like to attend a reputable college to improve my french.

I have visited Marseille briefly before, but some time ago and as it is a vast rapidly changing place I would like information about areas.

I would like to be near the sea, this is my primary criteria.

I have two large dogs that need some outdoor space, although we walk for 2-3hours every day, but I do not want to live right in the middle of the city.

Small house, rather than flat.

Nice area, not in the middle of no where, I have a car, so not reliant on public transport.

Any advice will be most welcome.

I have my UK car with me,(very elderly) when do I have to make a decision about "importing" it formally, or giving it to my son in UK, and buying a cheap french voiture!

[Thom1085]

Originally Posted by DPK

Hello all,

I am looking for some advice and information on Marseille please.

I have been travelling in France since early February, am now in Bages in Aude, and have been staying in short term lets.

I would like to spend six months in Marseille, UK passport, and would like to attend a reputable college to improve my french.

I have visited Marseille briefly before, but some time ago and as it is a vast rapidly changing place I would like information about areas.

I would like to be near the sea, this is my primary criteria.

I have two large dogs that need some outdoor space, although we walk for 2-3hours every day, but I do not want to live right in the middle of the city.

Small house, rather than flat.

Nice area, not in the middle of no where, I have a car, so not reliant on public transport.

Any advice will be most welcome.

I have my UK car with me,(very elderly) when do I have to make a decision about "importing" it formally, or giving it to my son in UK, and buying a cheap french voiture!

Hi,

I live and work in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille in Endoume, and absolutely love it. Right on the coast, and a really relaxed area a little way from the town centre.

The 7th and the 8th are the most desirable areas here, and so house prices or rental prices are very high. I don't know anyone who has a house here, as most people rent flats and apartments. Le Point Rouge is another great area further south towards the calanques and the main beach.

I also would never dream of having a car here, unless it was purely for getting out of the city. The roads are tiny, very little car parking space unless you have a garage and the driving is very 'Mediterranean.' I know what you mean about public transport, but personally I find I can walk everywhere I need to from here.

Marseille is a very unique city, and people either love it or hate it. It might be worth coming to stay here for a short visit before commiting to a longer stay to see how it might have changed since you were last here.

All the best,

Thom

[DPK]

Hello Thom,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I did not see your earlier thread on Marseille, so apologies for you having to repeat the info!

I shall have a good look on line for properties in the areas you suggest. Last time I stayed in Marseille we were lucky to have an apartment overlooking the old port, but that was on a very short term basis.

I have no doubts that I will still love Marseille, its a question of getting the balance right for the dogs and myself. I have been taking last minute holiday lets until now, and will probably do the same initially in Marseille.

Many many years ago, I worked as an au pair in Paris, and the only thing missing was the sea, I found Marseille offered everything that Paris offered plus that one major ingriedient, the sea.. and six months is no time at all to stay anywhere, if I did get the area wrong initially



I still like to travel about even when I am settled, friends from the airport, new areas to explore, new walks for the dogs, so a car will be a must for me.

I am not sure on balance whether I am better to buy a left hand drive here or import my car................... what are the pros and cons on insurance vis a vis cost on a RHD/LHD?

For anyone thinking of visiting Bage in Aude, I love it!
There is an air of tranquility here, and it is a mix of working fishing village and walkers dream, with a large hint of tourism. It is so close to Narbonne, you have the best of both worlds.
Only drawback is the mosquitos, I am being eaten alive, and have bought everything on offer in the shops to reduce their attacks.
There is a lot of empty property sadly, and houses are well priced.

[Dopameen]

I'm from Marseille originally, and I hate every bit of it :P Especially the driving !

If you have a car why don't you try the villages and small towns nearby marseille but right on the sea, like Carry-le-Rouet, Sausset-les-Pins, Ensues-la-Redonne, Cassis or La Ciotat? It's probably expensive (but housing is expensive all over the Bouches-Du-Rhone), but the quality of life seems to be so much better and it would be probably more suitable for your dogs too!

[DPK]

Hi Dopameen,

Thank you for your very candid opinion

I love to hear every ones views on a place.


Where abouts in Marseille did you live?

Did you live there as a child and an adult?

I can understand the driving in a city is not the best, but I am used to city driving, I lived in London for many years, but I would probably walk most places within the city, just have the car for longer journeys.

I will certainly look at the villages you suggest.

I notice you are in London now, do you find prices on par with Marseille? I hope you are enjoying London, it has something for everyone, where abouts are you?

Are you familiar with any of the language schools in Marseille?

[Dopameen]

I was born in a village between Marseille and Aix (Mimet), I lived there until I was 20 (then I moved to London, I'm now 25). I didn't live in Marseille itself, I only went there to see friends or family. I really really hate driving there, it stresses me out, people just don't respect one another on the road. Bear in mind I don't drive in London

I find Marseille dirty and I don't feel safe in there. But my mom works there as a social worker, she doesn't seem to be bothered by insecurity (being a social worker I think you get used to alls sorts of unstable people).

In terms of prices, it's hard to tell as I only really lived as an adult in London, in France I was just a child and then a student.

I live in Harrow, I can't complain, it's very convenient and I find it safe (and affordable). I'm moving back to France early 2014 tho

An sorry I'm clueless about language schools in Marseille =/

[Thom1085]

Originally Posted by DPK

Hi Dopameen,

Thank you for your very candid opinion

I love to hear every ones views on a place.


Where abouts in Marseille did you live?

Did you live there as a child and an adult?

I can understand the driving in a city is not the best, but I am used to city driving, I lived in London for many years, but I would probably walk most places within the city, just have the car for longer journeys.

I will certainly look at the villages you suggest.

I notice you are in London now, do you find prices on par with Marseille? I hope you are enjoying London, it has something for everyone, where abouts are you?

Are you familiar with any of the language schools in Marseille?

I too had a lot of experience in city driving such as London, but Marseille really is the next level. There really are no rules here, and I really believe it would be better for you to not have a car here. I would never think about driving here. It just isn't worth the stress.

The main things you will have problems with are rental agreements, as all are for 3 years, getting a tenancy - as most require an incredible amount of paperwork which has so be rooted to France, and also the language - as not many people here will of can speak English to you.

I have been lucky as my Girlfriend has done most of the paperwork for us so our transition was pretty simple, but I could imagine it being very hard for a Brit coming over without that.

Rental prices are far cheaper than London. I have a flat in a lovely area with sea views for 630 euros a month.

All the best,

Thom

[DPK]

Hi Thom,

What I am hoping to do is take a holiday let, over the winter season. These are frequently available for 6 - 8 months at a normal commercial rental. This means the paperwork is fairly simple.

Finding the right one is of course the big challenge!

I am also fortuante that I have a friend here who has holiday rentals in France, not this part of the world sadly, and his wife is French, so I have help available there for tricky contract details.

I am open minded about the accomodation and would be happy to take two or three month lets on several properties if that gave me more choice.

I really will take on board what you have said about the car, it will probably be kept for long distance journeys.

Hi Dopameen,

Harrow is quite a mixed area, you have some beautiful areas and some fairly unsavoury areas, I hope you are in a good part with good transport, which part of France will you come back to?

I wonder if you will view France differently after the UK?

Which are the "up and coming" areas of Marseille? Just hear so much about all the redevelopment that is happening, but have not got to grips with the geography of the city yet.

[DPK]

Well I am nearly there!

At the moment I am staying in Rocquavaire for two weeks to explore the areas.

Cassis is just "picture postcard perfect". So pretty and so spotlessly clean. Yesterday I took the boat trip to the Calanques. Utterly breath taking, I had forgotton the sheer drama of the scenery around Marseille.

Cassis is too small for me to live in year round.
Wonderful for a holiday.

I really enjoyed Le Ciotat, and am going to spend more time there, to see if that may be a long term possibility.

Found a wonderful old house in Le Point Rouge, but it was for sale and not to let, not ready for that committment just yet. Loved the house and the area.

Will keep on searching.
Thanks for the suggestions on area, its been really helpful.

[Dopameen]

Hi DPK!


I'm glad you enjoyed the places I suggested, they would definitely be on my top list if a bit more affordable I don't really know roquevaire, I guess it's near Aubagne isn't it?

I guess that boat trip to the calanques was just wonderful. I suggest a walk from Luminy campus, you can get to the Calanque of Morgiou and there is a high point of view there. It's simply wonderful. If you have good shoes you can even go right down to the water. Anyway, just driving from cassis to luminy is lovely