Place Castellane

Castellane square

and its monumental fountain
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Located in the 6th district, Castellane  square is one of the nerve centres of the city. It forms the homonymous roundabout which is located between the Vieux-Port and the Prado. Let’s talk about the  history of this square and its indivisible statue that belongs to European Heritage.

A square created thanks to Louis XIV

In the 18th century, King Louis XIV planned to align the ‘Porte d’Aix ‘with ‘la porte de Rôme‘ in the  old remparts of the  city. In responseto  the  Sun King’s request, the rue Rome which ended at the level of the current Prefecture, was extended to the location of the Place Castellane as we  know it today.

The Marquis Henri-César de Castellane-Majastre, who owned the  land, gave it to the town free of  charge in 1774 and thus, gave his  name to the square. At the same time, he offered to finance the development of the square. In this way, in 1798, the first fountain and a washhouse were installed. In 1811, to celebrate the birth of the Emperor Napoleon I ‘s son, an obelisk was added to the square and remained in place, until 1911, then it was moved to the 9th district of Mazargues where it is still visible.

    Place Castellane vue de la Rue de RomePlace Castellane Rome 2025vvotlcm 1

      The Cantini foutain, a gift from a rich man from Marseille

      Except the fact that this fountain is important for the people of Marseille, the Place Castellane is well known especially for the fountain located in the centre of the square named ‘Cantini’. At the beggining of the 20th century, a rich marber, Jules Cantini wanted to offer a gorgeous fountain to the city. Its realization was entrusted to André Allar, an  artist  from Toulon between 1911 and 1913. This monumental set is an amazing 25  meters high designed in marble of Carrara. A real architectural achievement! You  can see the square from a distance and it certainly adds a presence to the roundabout.

      The statues of the Cantini fountain

      Four large statues are located at the bottom of the foutain. The first three evokes the Mediterranean Sea and three rivers of the Provence – La Durance, the Verdon and the Rhône. The forth one  represents the statue of Marseille turned towards the  open Sea, it  dominates the building and on  its base are the  stages of the Rhône, from its source  to the sea. Each sculpture draws its inspiration from the work of a well known  artist: the Trevi  fountain, Lorenzo, Bernini,Français Rude and Raoul Larche. To thank André Allar, the sculpture in charge of the Cantini fountain, the  city of Marseille appointed him correspondent of the city’s Academy.

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        Place Castellane 2025

          Castellane Square Gets a Makeover

          After many months of transformation, Castellane Square unveiled its new look on June 15, 2025. As part of the extension of tram line 3, which will soon connect the northern part of the city (Capitaine Gèze in the 15th arrondissement) to the south (Hôpitaux Sud in the 9th arrondissement), the square has been completely redesigned to offer a more peaceful, welcoming, and modern urban space.

          The old roundabout centered around the Cantini Fountain has been replaced by a wide pedestrian plaza. Car traffic has been significantly reduced to allow better circulation for pedestrians and cyclists, thus promoting soft mobility. The esplanade is now lined with young hackberry trees, replacing the old palm trees.

          At the heart of this redeveloped space stands a 102-meter-long stone bench designed by Marseille-based designer Ora-ïto. Surrounding it are café terraces and shaded areas that enhance the friendly atmosphere.

          This new face of Castellane Square marks a turning point in Marseille’s urban planning: a reclaiming of public space for the benefit of residents and quality of life, following an approach that is aesthetic, ecological, and functional. A radical change for this emblematic square in the city of Marseille.

          A lively and bustling district

          ‘Place Castellane’ is open on three big axis. Firstly, Rome street is a lively shopping street which often attracts teenagers and young  adults searching for highly coveted pieces that defy all competition. Secondly, Avenue du Prado with its wide shaded pavements that  welcomes one of the main markets of Marseille. Every morning, this market gathers more than 80 exponents who offer fruits and vegetables, flowers, local product … Thirdly, Baille Boulevard that joins the La Timone district.