Is Marseille the oldest city?

Founded c. 600 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea, Marseille is the oldest city in France, as well as one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited settlements. It was known to the ancient Greeks as Massalia (Greek: ?assa??a, romanized: Massalía) and to Romans as Massilia.



People Also Ask

Marseille is a city of contrasts, with both ancient history and modern architecture. The famous Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, which overlooks the city, is one of Marseille's most famous landmarks. The city is also home to modern architectural marvels like the CMA CGM Tower, one of the tallest buildings in France.

MORE DETAILS

However, for the Parisian impressionists who sought out Marseille and its environs, this local artistic world held very little interest for them. Perhaps one of Marseille's most enduring and most stereotypical “imaginaries” is that it is a wicked city, a landscape defined by vice, by trash, and by outsiders.

MORE DETAILS

Athens is the second oldest city in Europe, dating back to about 3000 BC. The first settlement was built on the rock of Acropolis. It was formed when King Theseus united several settlements of Attica into a state. According to Greek mythology, Athens was named after the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Athena.

MORE DETAILS

1. Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Inhabited since: 7000 B.C. The oldest city in Europe has been continuously inhabited since around the sixth millennium B.C. and is also one of the oldest in the world.

MORE DETAILS