Despite being France’s second largest city in terms of population, Marseille doesn’t get enough airtime. But its access to sea and a year-round growing season has long provided an attractive backbone. Marseille offered a trading post for the Greeks from 600BCE, and now handles 100 million annual tonnes of freight today. Meanwhile its kitchens are gifted with fresh produce, enticing a new and dynamic gastronomic set.

Boutique hotel Maison Montgrand is located in the heart of Marseille, within 300m of the active Old Port. By stitching together the hotel and long stay model, Maison Montgrand services brief visits as well as travellers looks to linger with family or friends on the Côte d’Azur. Fair pricing competes with Airbnb, with rooms starting at €90 per night.

Rooms and apartments define two key room types. Bedrooms offer paired-back rooms with Classic, Superior and Family options. Over a dozen apartments are furnished with hobs and fridges with half being 42m² or larger, also accommodating three or four guests with the help of a pull-out sofa bed.

There are no shared facilities or gym aside from the communal dining area which serves breakfast and dinner.

Neighbourhood

Nearby drinking and dining options include restaurant Sepia and Deep Coffee, each within a 4-minute walk of Maison Montgrand. A speakeasy shouldn’t make it into a city guide for athletes, but the cocktails at Carry Nation are too good to miss and a mere 5-minute walk from Maison Montgrand.

Further from the hotel are restaurants Les Euax des Mars (taxi) and La Mercerie (walkable).

Training Notes

The French Riviera is an easy place for runners, cyclist and swimmings to continue training when on the road. Like Nice, Marseille is gifted with clean, swimmable waters within a short walk of the city centre.

Running in Marseille means heading to the sea. From Hotel Montgrand, cut down to the harbour and follow that directly to the coast. The coastal part then continues east – follow that and cut back across town to the hotel, or double back and follow your tracks. A running track is located at Complexe JEAN BOUIN Stadium, a simple 2-mile e-ride south of Old Port..

Cyclists have the Calanques, Corniche and Carmargue within firing distance from Marseille. Headed out of town isn’t as seamless as Nice, but far easier than exiting Paris.

Beyond the ample open water bordering Marseille, swimmers can look to lanes at the Piscine René Magnac. The pool near to the Old Port is only open to members, but there is another closed off seawater swimming area on the opposite side, adjacent to Mucem – Museum of Civilizations – .Piscine de mer du Mucem

Review based on June 2022 stay – Room #311. For more information, visit hotel-maison-montgrand.com.