The history of the Belsunce neighbourhood
A neighbourhood rich in historical heritage
Let’s go back nearly 800 years: in 1215, there was nothing in the area but a simple convent. It was built by the Franciscan Order, between Rue Tapis-Vert and Rue Vincent Scotto. Unfortunately, the convent was destroyed in 1524 on the orders of Charles V.
A few hundred years later, the famous sculptor, painter and architect Pierre Puget played an active role in the expansion of the Grand Cours, founded in 1666. The Grand Cours was, in fact, a grand avenue frequented mainly by the Marseille nobility of the time. Over time, this avenue developed into a venue for fairs and markets, attracting a more working-class crowd.
One of the most beautiful squares in Europe was created in this neighbourhood: the Cours Saint-Hommebon. The neighbourhood began to be urbanised and developed. It was not until the 17th century that the city of Marseille named the Belsunce neighbourhood in honour of Bishop Henri François-Xavier de Belsunce-Castelmoron, who was of great assistance to the inhabitants during the Great Plague of 1720.
Another historic date for the Belsunce neighbourhood: 1792, when the French national anthem, *La Marseillaise* (on Rue Thubaneau, to be precise), composed by Rouget de Lisle in the city of Strasbourg, was sung for the first time.
A theatre was opened in 1857 in the Belsunce district, breathing new life into the area. Devastated by a fire in 1873, it was renovated in 1889. During the interwar period, it served as an operetta theatre. In 1932, it became a cinema and music hall until its demolition in 1980. Today, a regional library has taken its place.
In 1892, the line linking Belsunce to Saint-Louis became France’s first electric trolleybus system. Since the early 1960s, Belsunce has experienced a wave of immigration, mainly comprising Spaniards, Armenians, North Africans, Jews and, more recently, Asians. Many members of these communities opened shops specialising in their respective cuisines, which are still in operation today.
In 2018, the city launched an initiative called ‘Grand Centre-Ville’, aimed at renovating housing in need of refurbishment and adding green spaces to the neighbourhood.
