Neighbourhood

La Valentine

A shopping and residential district

Located in the 11ᵉ arrondissement of Marseille, the La Valentine district is well known to all the locals, who come here regularly for a shopping spree, a restaurant or an evening at the cinema. But this vast district harbours many other secrets, including the largest brasserie in the south of France and an 18-hole golf course in the middle of a pine forest.

The origins of the La Valentine district

In the Middle Ages, the area was called “Ulmeta” and then “Les Balmettes”, in reference to the small cliffs found in this hilly landscape. It owes its current name to a man named Jean Valentin, who acquired a bastide in 1440 and gave it the name “La Valentine”. In the 18th century, the Bishop of Marseille, Mgr de Belsunce, consecrated a church there under the name of Saint-Valentin, confirming the choice of this name. For a long time, the district was used for farming, and the cultivated areas developed particularly in the 19th century, when the digging of the Marseille canal encouraged irrigation.

La Valentine underwent sustained development from the second half of the 20th century, with the opening of the A50 motorway to traffic in 1962, and the inauguration of a major shopping centre in 1982, an 18-hole golf course in 1989 and a multiplex cinema in 1997. Most of the former farmland and pine forests are now home to residential and commercial areas. You can still find the soul of La Valentine by visiting its village centre, with its village houses huddled around the church of Saint-Valentin.

A district dedicated to the leisure activities of the people of Marseille

La Valentine shopping centre enjoys a privileged location halfway between Marseille and Aubagne, easily accessible by car via the A50 motorway. The shopping area has expanded over the years, with popular names such as Printemps, Fnac, IKEA, Leroy Merlin, Boulanger and Décathlon, as well as an Auchan hypermarket, shopping arcades, car dealerships, cafés and restaurants.

The Les 3 Palmes cinema, with its 11 screens and 2,436 seats, also attracts cinema-goers. The La Valentine area is now expanding eastwards, with a karting circuit and climbing gym.

An 18-hole golf course in the middle of the pine forest

The Bastide de la Salette golf course is a delight for golf enthusiasts, who can enjoy their favourite sport in an idyllic setting. An 18-hole course designed by Michel Gayon has been laid out in the middle of the pinewoods, with water hazards, mounds and bunkers to encourage tactical play.

You can get started or improve your game on the driving range or try out the Trackman Range, a connected tool designed to measure your performance and identify areas for improvement. The Proshop has all the equipment you need to play in the best possible conditions: clothing, clubs, accessories, etc.

The Bastide de la Salette restaurant welcomes you either inside or on the terrace, with a menu that focuses on traditional products.

A landscaped cemetery, the Vaudrans necropolis

Marseille’s large cemeteries were running out of space, and in 1976 the authorities decided to build a vast necropolis on the former Château des Vaudrans property. This cemetery incorporates a strong landscape dimension, to offer families a place to reflect. The site hugs the rolling hills, with trees, lawns and unobstructed views of the sea or Notre-Dame de la Garde.

Religious squares reflect the diversity of Marseille’s population, with spaces dedicated to Jewish and Muslim families. The necropolis has been enlarged three times in response to the lack of space in Marseille’s cemeteries.

Did you know?

A large brewery developed from the 1820s just a few metres from the old village of La Valentine. The location has one major advantage: the nearby presence of numerous springs and an underground lake, which ensured a quality water supply until the 1970s. The brewery now belongs to the Heineken group, one of Europe’s largest beer producers.