Monuments and museums of Marseille

The Castle of If

It is situated in the bay of Marseille, on the smallest Frioul Island. This calcareous cliff is near Ratonneau and Pomègues islands.

This Castle is a French fortification built between 1527 and 1529 on François Ier's initiative to control the entrance of the port.

Information : Château d'If - Ports Iles du Frioul - 13000 Marseille. The crossings are possible. Tourist office : 04 91 13 89 00.

Saint Victor Abbey

It was built in the Vth century near he graves of the martyrs of Marseille by Jean Cassien.

Nowadays, this abbey is the most ancient monument of Marseille.

Information : 3, Rue de l'Abbaye - 13007 Marseille. Phone : 04 96 11 22 60. saintvictor@free.fr

La Major Cathedral

Also called Sainte-Marie-Majeure basilica, La Major Cathedral dates from the XIXth century. It was built between 1852 and 1893.

This new romano-Byzantine cathedral is built on an ancient Romanic cathedral.

Information : Place de la Major - 13002 Marseille. Phone : 04 91 90 01 82

The Accoules Church

This church is in the district of the Accoules in Marseille. It was built in the XIXth century.

In the place of this church was a church dedicated to the Virgo dating from the XIth century. Only its bell tower, built on an ancient tower, the Sauveterre tower, remains nowadays.

Information : 10, Place Daviel - 13002 Marseille. Phone : 04 91 72 43 47.

Saint Vincent de Paul Church

More collectively called Church of the "Réformés" by the inhabitants of Marseille, this church is in the place of the convent of the "Augustins-Réformés".

It was built in the XIXth century, between 1855 and 1888, by the architect Reybaud. This one based itself on the plans of the abbot Pougnet, according to the Gothic style from the XIIIth century.

Information : 2, cours Franklin Roosevelt - 13001 Marseille.

Saint Laurent Church

Situated near Saint Jean Fort and dating from the end of the XIIth, the beginning of XIIIth century, this Romanic church is classified Ancient monument.

Information : 16, esplanade de la Tourette - 13002 Marseille. Phone : 04 91 90 99 81.

Saint Jean Fort

Built at the end of the XIIth century during the implementation of the "Hospitaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem"' commander's residence, it was ended under Louis XIV.

A Square Tower was built in the XVth century on King René's request.

Information : Quai du Port - 13002 Marseille.

The City Hall

The City hall is a baroque monument built in the XVIIth century on Louis XIV's request.

Information : Quai du Port - 13002 Marseille. Phone : 04 91 55 11 11.

The park of the 26th Centenary

This emblem of Marseille, with 26 sequoias representing the 26 centuries of history of the city, dates from the XXth century. You will discover four thematic gardens (Provençal, oriental, African and Asiatic) symbolizing the mixture of cultures of Marseille.

Information : Place de l'Espérance, Avenue Cantini - 13010 Marseille.
Phone : 04 91 55 25 51.

The Museum of Navy and Economy

This museum is in the palace of the Stock Exchange. He tells the history of the Business and Marine of Marseille.

Models, pictures, plans and carvings illustrate the history of the port of Marseille.

The museum advances also submarine technologies.

Information : Palais de la Bourse - 9, la Canebière - 13001 Marseille.
Phone : 04 91 91 91 51.

The Museum of Fashion

The Museum of Fashion was created in 1988 by Maryline Bellieud-Vigouroux and is connected with the Museums of Marseille.

You will discover there 6000 clothes and different accessories dating from the XXth century.

Information : 11, la Canebière - BP 72249 - 13211 Marseille Cedex 01.
Phone : 04 96 17 06 00.

Notre Dame de la Garde

Notre Dame de la Garde, romano Byzantine basilica, was built in the XVth century and dedicated in the XIXth century.

Its geographic situation allows it to protect the city, so it's also called "La Bonne Mère".

Information : Place Colonel Edon - 13007 Marseille. Phone : 04 91 13 40 80.

The Opera of Marseille

The Opera of Marseille, real jewel of architecture, dates from 1924. It was built on the ancient "Big Theater" ravaged by a fire by 1920.

This opera proposes works of an exceptional quality.

Information : 2, rue Molière - 13001 Marseille.

The Law Court

The current Law Court is a classic building from the XIXth century endowed with a magnificent facade and in front of which is a big pond. It was drawn by the architect Auguste Martin to replace the former palace which was place Daviel.

Information : Place Montyon - 13006 Marseille. Phone : 04 91 15 31 13.

The Pharo Palace

The Pharo Palace dates from the XIXth century. It was built from 1858 on the west coast of Marseille on Napoleon Bonaparte's request. It was given to the city of Marseille in 1903 by the Empress Eugénie.

Today workroom, this palace is enormously visited, notably for the exceptional sight on the "Vieux Port".

Information : 58, Boulevard Charles-Livon - 13007 Marseille.

The Longchamp Palace

The Longchamp palace is a luxurious palace built in the XIXth century by Henri Espérandieu, architect of Notre Dame de la Garde, in honour of the arrival of the waters from Durance to Marseille.

This Palace is consisted of three different parts : The water castle in the centre and the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine art on both sides.

Information : Cinq Avenues Longchamp - 13004 Marseille.

The Park Pastré

The Park Pastré is situated between "la Pinte Rouge" and "la Grotte Rolland" and extends over more than 110 hectares.

This park is one of the jewels of Marseille with its canal, its areas of games, its ponds, its paths to have a walk and its castle from the XIXth century which shelters the Museum of the Earthenware.

Information : 157, avenue de Montredon - 13008 Marseille.
Phone : 04 91 55 25 51.

Aix's door

Aix's door is situated place Jules Guesde in the centre of which rises a magnificent triumphal arch. Construction began in the XIXth century to be inaugurated on May 1st, 1937.

Let us note that the architecture of this triumphal arch is sublime: it consists of an arc and an attique basing on four Corinthian columns.

Information : Place Jules Guesde - 13001 Marseille.

The Prefecture

The Prefecture is a building built in the XIXth century, from 1860 till 1867, on the plans of Auguste Martin and Nolan. It was inspired by a Florentine palace.

The architecture is remarkable : it consists of a pavilion in the centre and 2 wings.

Information : Boulevard Paul Peytral - 13006 Marseille.
Phone : 04 91 15 60 00.

"La Vieille Charité"

The construction of "La Vieille Charité" began in the XVIIth century to end in 1745. This architectural grouping consists of four wings of buildings, an inner courtyard and a chapel.

Nowadays, the Centre of "La Vieille Charité" welcomes cultural centres : The Museum of Mediterranean archaeology and the Museum of African, Oceanian and Amerindian Arts.

Information : 2, rue de la Charité - 13002 Marseille.