Gay Pride Marseille 2011Marseille has a rough-and-ready, even macho image. But the city's melting-pot population and cultural diversity create an easy-going vibe that makes it unusually gay- and lesbian-friendly.

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The city's LGBT community has been dogged for some years by infighting between rival factions. It has often had a negative effect on events such as the annual Gay Pride march. However this local feuding should not have much impact on the casual visitor.

Admittedly, there's not much of a queer scene in the conventional sense. One gay travel website holds out the delicious prospect of hunky, bare-chested sailors mending their fishing nets on the Old Port. Sadly, we've never seen much sign of any of these.

Marseille's LGBT subculture is discreet, low-key and rather un-camp compared to many European cities of its size and it has no clearly demarcated gay quarter - although you might also see this secret quality as one of its charms.

All this said, you'll find a number of spots clustered at the top of the Canebière and, unsurprisingly, in the hip Cours Julien / La Plaine district. In fact the long staircase leading up to this part of town, pictured, has been repainted by an LGBT association in rainbow colours.

cours julien rainbow staircaseThe city has its fair share of gay and lesbian bars, clubs, saunas, shops and accommodation and there's plenty going on here if you know where to look.

The authorities, too, have not been slow to note the attractions of the pink €uro (and vote) and politicians now pitch up for the annual Gay Pride march in July to offer themselves up for photo opportunities.

There's also no shortage of gay-oriented websites for Provence but many are in French only and the information they provide on this very fast-changing scene is not always up-to-date.

We list below the best venues and contact points as of the time of writing.

 

BARS, BEACHES, BRASSERIES, CLUBS, DISCOS, SAUNAS...

The gay pride march in Marseille

Aux 3G is a mainly lesbian bar/club with poetry, music, table football... what's not to like? 3 rue Saint Pierre, 13005 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 48 76 36.

Cargo consists of a mini-complex of gay and lesbian facilities. Its sauna is reputedly the largest in the south of France. There is also a shop and a restaurant, Caffè Noir. 7 rue Moustier, 13001 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 04 08 66.

Casa No Name, in the Cours Julien area, has a regular gay and lesbian clientele and a Mediterranean-influenced menu that changes weekly. 7, rue André Poggioli, 13006 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 47 75 82.

Les Danaïdes is a popular bistrot/brasserie with a mixed gay and straight clientele on an attractive square at the top of the Canebière. 6 square Stalingrad, 13001 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 62 28 51. Fax: (+33) 4 91 62 26 50.

L'Endroit is a gay-friendly bar and restaurant just off the Old Port, with a popular karaoke evening each week plus other events. 8 rue Bailli de Suffren, 13001 Marseille. (+33) 4 91 33 97 25.

Link Hall is an informal gay and gay-friendly bar in the Noailles district of central Marseille, just off the Canebière. 11 rue Moustier, 13001 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 7 82 59 54 89.

Moby Dyke is a wondrously named lesbian / gay-friendly bar, famed for its rums, in the Cours Julien district. 55 place Jean Jaurès, 13005 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 6 58 33 78 42.

Mont Rose is the closest nudist beach to Marseille and one of the oldest-established (male) gay beaches in this part of France.

The New Cancan is Marseille's oldest gay disco, presided over by Michel Piacenza who has been active in the local gay community for over 30 years. It's 1980s inflected, both in decor and in music. 3-7 rue Sénac, 13001 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 48 59 76. An adjunct of the New Cancan is the MP Sauna at 82 la Canebière, 13001 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 48 72 51.

Play Bar is a gay, lesbian and gay-friendly bar just behind the Préfecture. 133 rue Breteuil, 13006 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 13 63 70 85.

Le Trash is a popular cruising venue that holds regular themed parties. 28 rue du Berceau, 13005 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 4 91 25 52 16.

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ACCOMMODATION

Various Marseille hotels such as the fashionable New Hotel Le Pharo and the ultra-hip Mama Shelter Marseille, pictured below, put themselves forward as gay-friendly.

marseille mama shelter barHere some recommended gay-run B&Bs:

Patrick & Bruno, boulevard Longchamp, 13001 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 9 51 60 64 91 or (+33) 6 75 25 10 10.

Romain & Pascal, 33 rue Falque, 13006 Marseille. Tel: (+33) 6 77 94 34 50.

EVENTS

Marseille holds an annual Gay Pride march each summer, normally on the first Saturday of July. In the summer of 2013 - the year of the region's tenure as European Capital of Culture - Marseille hosted EuroPride.

The Festival Reflets, a LGBT-themed film festival in Marseille in the spring, has now been discontinued and is replaced by Zefestival, which takes place in the autumn and spreads its screenings all across Provence, spanning Nice, Avignon, Salon de Provence, Toulon, Aubagne and Marseille.

ORGANISATIONS AND SOCIAL CENTRES

Centre Evolutif Lileth protects lesbian and gay rights and also offers a programme of activities including film screenings, hikes, lectures, self-defence courses and meals. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Front Runners Marseille is an association for gay and lesbian athletes.

Rando's Provence (sic) is an association for gay and lesbian hikers in Provence with weekly programmes of organised walks

PRACTICAL HELP AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

A number of centres offer free, anonymous AIDS tests in Marseille (and other towns in the Bouches du Rhône département). The French word for AIDS is SIDA. A test, or screening, is dépistage.

AIDS helpline: 0800 840 800 (freephone number).

Hepatitis helpline: 0800 845 800 (freephone number)

Homophobia helpline: 0810 108 135 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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