A historic place
Located on the south bank of the Vieux-Port de Marseille, Place aux Huiles has the appearance of a large esplanade built on an ancient canal – the Canal de la Douane – which was used by galleys, a type of ship with oars and sails, to access the arsenals. Its course followed the Cours Jean-Ballard and Honoré-d’Estienne-d’Orves. Reserved for commercial use until the early 20th century, the square takes its name from the oil barrels disembarked and embarked on the said canal. These barrels were mainly used by the soap factories located in Marseille’s Rue Sainte. Between 1927 and 1929, the canal was completely filled in. In the early 1960s, on the initiative of Gaston Deferre, the mayor of the time, a 375-space overhead parking lot was built on the Cours d’Estienne d’Orves. Dissatisfied, the people of Marseilles demanded that a solution be found to remove it. In 1987, the plan to remove the overhead parking lot was accepted. It was then replaced by the current underground parking lot.
The Place aux Huiles, perpendicular to the Cours Estienne d’Orves, now resembles a piazza, an Italian public square. It was inaugurated by urban architect Charles Bové in 1989, inspired by Rome’s famous Piazza Navona. Today, the Place aux Huiles is one of the most popular spots for locals and tourists alike. Various spaces have been developed to transform the square into a delightful place to stroll and live. As they pass through the square, visitors can find restaurants, boutiques and even art galleries.
