Marseille, also known as Marsiho or Marselha in Occitan, is the administrative center of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and serves as the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the picturesque Provence region of southern France, it graces the coast of the Gulf of Lion, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea, near the mouth of the Rhône river.

Marseille stands as the second most populous city in France, with 870,321 residents within its municipal territory spanning 241 square kilometres (93 square miles). The broader Marseille metropolitan area, encompassing 3,972 square kilometres (1,534 square miles)

Marseille holds the distinction of being the oldest city in France and one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited settlements. It was known to ancient Greeks as Massalia and to Romans as Massilia, with the name likely originating from the Greek word "massa," meaning "lump" or "barley-cake," in reference to La Garde rock. Marseille's history as a trading port dates back to antiquity, experiencing significant commercial growth during the colonial and 19th-century periods, evolving into a prosperous industrial and trading hub.