Marseille was an important European trading centre and remains the main commercial port of the French Republic. Marseille is now France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017; it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016. It is home to Aix-Marseille University. Marseille is the second-largest city in France after Paris and the centre of the third-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon. To the east, starting in the small fishing
2013 Women's European Volleyball Championship qualification tournament was held at Salohalli in Salo, Finland. The tournament was held at Sports Games Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan. The tournament was held at Sala Polivalentă in Piatra Neamţ, Romania. The tournament was held at Valbruna in Rovinj, Croatia. The tournament was held at Ljudski vrt Sports Hall in Maribor, Slovenia. The tournament will be held at Sportcampus Lange Munte in Kortrijk, Belgium. The tournament was held at Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria. The tournament was held at Bvuss in Budaörs, Hungary. 2013 Women's European Volleyball Championship qualification The qualification for the 2013 Women's European Volleyball Championship