Pick up your rental car in Avenue du Prado

On your next visit to Marseille, France you will want to make sure you hit one of its most charming streets, The Avenue du Prado.  Located in the 6th and 8th district of Marseille, it is a broad avenue that extends the major axis of the city to the sea.  A full 3400 square meters in length and 60 meters wide, the "Lands Prado" began construction on 16 November 1839.  You will see, it is worth getting out in your Marseille car hire.

During the 19th century the coastal areas of Marseille developed rapidly, changing the eastern side of the avenue.  From Toulon Avenue on towards the beach you will primarily find various industrial buildings, warehouses and urban housing.  In the west of the avenue, between Prado Street and Paradise Street you can find a residential area as well as the bourgeoisie end of trading.  

Avenue du Prado was once known for its charming canopy of plane trees, but due to a fungus imported from the United States these trees have been nearly wiped out.  The planes were eventually replaced by hackberry and silver lime trees.

As you journey down Avenue du Prado in your car hire Marseille be sure to stop and check out some of the lesser known sites, such as the Gaumont cinema building, whose facade stands as a rare example of Art Nouveau in Marseille.  Also on the street is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Great Bulwark high-rise, and an Armenian Apostolic Church.

Every morning, between Place Castellane and Boulevard Perier, the avenue is host to the biggest market of Marseille.  Here you can find fresh produce, clothing, flowers and plants.