Travel Guide Marseille

The third district, and especially the neighbourhood of Belle de Mai, which has become famous by the famous television series "Plus Belle la vie", is very cosmopolitan. Since the 19th century, it has been home to many Italian immigrants hence the many names of Italian-sounding streets such as Barsotti Street for example. But today it is one of the poorest urban areas in France where old buildings are next to large complexes such as the Bellevue city which was built in the 1960s and 1970s to house new inhabitants, mainly from North Africa. But this borough also has many assets and it is in the midst of a renaissance. Located in the centre of the Marseille metropolitan area, it is well served by the metro, which passes through La Villette and Saint-Mauron neighbourhoods, while being close to Saint-Charles station. The 3rd distrit also benefits from the dynamism brought by the Saint-Charles campus of the University of Aix-Marseille which in the district of Saint-Lazare. Finally, the 3rd district has benefited greatly from the Euro-Mediterranean project which is an urban rehabilitation programme. For example, the former tobacco factory of La Belle de Mai has been transformed into a cultural space and serves as a place of exhibition and show.