Marseille-Provence 2013 a larger, decades-long, multibillion-dollar development effort to revitalize the city. The official designation of European Capital of Culture was created in 1985 with the goal of building ties between citizens of the European Union by celebrating both the diversity of European culture and its common history and values. The event is also considered an opportunity for a city or region raise its international profile and to foster urban renewal through investment in culture and tourism. Thus far, more than 40 cities have received the European Capital of Culture designation. The city of Marseille launched its candidacy to host the European
History of Quebec City History of Quebec City Quebec City, capital of the province of Quebec, Canada, is one of the oldest European settlements in North America. Quebec City was founded by the French explorer and navigator Samuel de Champlain in 1608, commencing a string of French colonies along the St. Lawrence River, creating a region named "le Canada". Prior to the arrival of the French, the location that would become Quebec City was the home of a small Iroquois village called "Stadacona". Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, was the first European to ascend the St. Lawrence Gulf, claiming "le Canada" for France (and