This is a great first for the Old Port: a Christmas show that combines fireworks, 500 drones and 18 lasers. From 8 p.m. and lasting about a quarter of an hourthe Marseille Tourist Office offers a spectacle that promises to be grandiose for the people of Marseille a few days before Christmas. 17,000 projectiles should be fired for this fireworks display.
The good news is that the weather forecast announces a fall of the mistral in the evening and therefore a spectacle which should be maintained. While fireworks rockets can be fired with low wind, drones are the most sensitive to wind. For the drone part of the show to be maintained, the wind must not exceed 35 km/h in gusts, which should be the case if the weather forecasts are confirmed.
Where to stand to best see the show?
Map of events and traffic in Marseille Saturday December 21 © Frequence-sud.fr
The show will be offered from three large areas, and perhaps a fourth surprise on the Bonne Mère side. The fireworks will be fired, as for July 14, from Fort d'Entrecasteaux and barges located in the Vieux Port basin.
The drones will take off from the Digue du Large and position themselves at the entrance to the Old Port, in front of the Mucem.
Finally, the 18 lasers should be installed in the Old Port.
Quai des Belges / Quai de la Fraternité / Ombrière
The central square of Marseille will certainly be the only one allowing you to see the entire show. Both the fireworks from Fort d'Entrecasteaux, the basin of the Old Port, Notre Dame de la Garde and the drones at the entrance to the Port. It is also the sector which is generally the busiest, but also very secure.
Quai de Rive Neuve
The view of Fort d'Entrecasteaux can be a little limited, and you cannot see Notre Dame de la Garde. But overall, we will see a large part of the show.
Quai du Port / Town Hall side / Esplanade de la Tourette
This is a great place to see the fireworks over the Old Port, but the drone view at the harbor entrance might be difficult, hidden by the Fort Saint Jean building. The public will also be able to enjoy the mapping on the Town Hall.
Pharo Garden
The Palais du Pharo always offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Old Port of Marseille, including the port entrance and the Mucem. The only risk is being almost under the drones, and therefore not being able to take full advantage of them. On the other hand, we will be able to take full advantage of the mapping show projected on the Palais du Pharo.
Esplanade Jean-Paul II / in front of the Major
The view of the fireworks will be very limited, since it is hidden by the Basket. However, we will see the drone show and also the mapping projected on the Major Cathedral.
Courtyard of Saint Victor Abbey
It's a good place to see the rockets fired from Fort d'Entrecasteaux, but it will be more complicated to see those fired from the Vieux Port basin, hidden by buildings. Concerning drones, the risk is to be poorly positioned and to see them certainly, but from the wrong angle.
Pedestrianized Old Port and RTM good deals
From 4 p.m. the Old Port will be pedestrianized, including the tunnel exits towards the Old Port and the Pharo. Motorists will have to continue straight either towards Joliette or towards Prado Carénage (paying). This pedestrianization will be extended from 6 p.m. to the Pharo and Mucem sector. Added to this is the pedestrianization of the hyper center as part of the Christmas clearance sale.
The good news is that the RTM allows you to travel 24 hours across the entire network with a simple solo ticket. The same goes for coming to Marseille with the Métropole's intercity buses. Here too, a single trip ticket is valid for 24 hours. However, as usual for major events, the metro stations around the Old Port will be closed.
Details of street closures are available in our full article:
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