Marseille is an historic city in the South of France, one of the oldest in Europe. Founded by Greek traders 3,000 years ago, Marseille has always been a city of the sea and of commerce. An easy three-hour high-speed train ride from Paris, it’s a popular tourist stop for Americans.

With 300 days of sunshine a year, friendly people and some of the best food in France, it has much to offer. February weather is about 60º daytime and 45º nights. The city also offers interesting museums, including five favorites:

Musee d'Histoire de Marseille: Located in the center of the city on Square Belsunce, it's connected to a very modern shopping mall on one side and features ancient ruins on the other.

MuCEM: The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations was created from a fort and several historic buildings on the Old Port area. The museum traces the history of civilization as it developed in the area.

Musee des Beaux-Arts, Palais Longchamps: It houses a large collection of old masters, Impressionists and other works of art.

The Museum of Decorative Arts, Ceramics and Fashion: Home to large collections dating back to the 18th century, it’s in the former summer home of one of the city's richest families.

Musee Cantini: A modern art museum, it displays works from the 20th Century. The historic building features both a permanent collection as well as a regular schedule of temporary exhibitions.