Description
Follow this short stroll to discover the Saint Charles neighbourhood.
When one mentions the name Saint-Charles, the SNCF station (1) is the first thing that comes to mind. Indeed, it stands out for several reasons. But it is also a neighborhood that has been transforming for several years and is becoming an university hub that we will introduce to you.
We suggest arriving at Saint-Charles by metro and crossing the hall to reach Narvik Square (where the current drop-off point for motorists is located). On your left, first notice a stele (2). If you look further to the left, there is a large 15-story building in yellow/beige. In front of it stands the Golden Virgin (3).
Cross the square to access the station's "masterpiece": its staircase and panoramic view of part of the city (4). Admire the sweeping view of Boulevard d'Athènes, the street art mural (5), and Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica.
Walk along the other side of the station to reach stairs that lead to Boulevard Maurice Bourdet. Cross and descend Boulevard Charles Nédélec. At the third intersection, turn right onto Rue Joseph Biaggi where you'll find the Bourse de Travail (6).
Continue straight and skirt around the EMD Management School. Go up Rue Frédéric Ozanam until you reach Avenue du Général Leclerc, which you descend on the left.
On the other side of the boulevard, you'll see the Saint-Charles campus, the original university site. Notably, there is a large rectangular peristyle building (7).
Then you pass by a stele dedicated to General Leclerc (8).
A flight of stairs takes you to the foot of the Toyoko Inn hotel (9). Enter on the left into Porte d'Aix Park (10). Follow the central path to reach the forecourt of the Arc de Triomphe (11).
As you can see, this area designed by Euroméditerranée has undergone a major transformation over the past decade. Until recently, the A7 motorway divided the neighborhood in two, as it ended at the triumphal arch. The area is transforming with the construction of new student residences, numerous schools, the consolidation of three universities (specifically, the faculties of architecture, landscape, and urban planning), the creation of an inter-university library, and most importantly, the addition of a major asset: the inauguration of a brand new park in the heart of the city.
The Saint-Charles district now positions itself as an urban campus. For more information: www.euromediterranee.fr
In line with the Arc de Triomphe, cross Boulevard Charles Nédelec. In front of you, Rue d'Aix descends, which changes names several times over more than 6 kilometers, to reach the Mazargues district. It is one of the main north-south axes of the city. Sharpen your gaze, you should at least see the column of the fountain in Place Castellane, located 2 kilometers away.
Finish your visit at the forecourt of the Regional Hotel, Place Gilberto Bosques. The Regional Council consists of two buildings that were built between 1984 and 1991 in the Butte des Carmes district. The forecourt of the Regional Hotel houses 3 remarkable elements (12).
Accepted customers
- Level green – easy
All year round.
Environment
- In centre of town
- Town location
Points of interest
Points of interest
1Railway station Saint-Charles
2Stele
This monument is dedicated to railway workers who died in combat. It was erected in 1946.
3Golden Virgin
In 1854, the Catholic Church decreed that the Virgin Mary was exempt from original sin, inherited by all humans since Adam and Eve. This marked the birth of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In 1857, to celebrate this event, the Bishop of Marseille, Monsignor de Mazenod (bishop between 1837 and 1861), had three commemorative monuments erected in the city, including this Golden Virgin. The structure is very imposing and monumental. The statue of the Virgin stands 3 meters tall, mounted on a column which itself rests on a pedestal.
4Staircase of the railway station
5Mural with birds
The starting point of this initiative is in New York with the "Audubon Mural Project" project. Its objective: to involve urban artists to paint graffiti representing endangered bird species on the walls of New York. Its name is a tribute to the famous nineteenth-century naturalist painter, John James Audubon, recognized as a pioneer in ornithology due to his detailed illustrations of North American birds.
This project quickly spread around the world, with similar events emerging in various countries.
In France, the association COAL is at the forefront of this movement, known as "Les murs d'Audubon." This cultural and artistic organization mobilizes artists to paint representations of threatened birds on the walls of French cities. To date, three murals have been completed: in Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), featuring 11 migratory birds, in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais) with a Kestrel, and the most recent one in Marseille.
This latest mural, designed by the Greek artist FIKOS, features Mediterranean migratory birds such as the Black-eared Wheatear and the Eurasian Hoopoe, as well as American species such as the Mountain Mockingbird and the American Nutcracker. Inspired by the works of John James Audubon, Fikos chose to pay tribute to Marseille by representing the Greek explorer Pytheas, an iconic figure of the city, in one of the artworks.
This mural was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Art Climate Transition (ACT) network, whose objective is to raise public awareness of contemporary climate issues. Its inauguration coincides with the opening of the World Conservation Congress in Marseille.
6Labor exchange building
7Fernand Pouillon library
This university library, designed by architect Fernand Pouillon in 1958, is classified as a 20th-century heritage site.
The library building rests on a one-storey base marked by vertical openings housing administrative offices. Set back from this base is a rectangular peristyle, where the expansive glass surfaces of the reading room are visible. A large lantern, protruding from the roof, illuminates the heart of this quite massive building. The entrance is located on the side, accessible by a wide staircase leading to a platform where the entrance hall is situated.
The architect opted for the use of stone, as well as ceramic caissons for the undersides of the peristyle floors. The roofs of the reading room and the book storage at the back are made of copper. This follows the architectural style of his various creations located around the Old Port of Marseille.
8Stele dedicated to General Leclerc
Marshal Leclerc was an exceptional military leader, having commanded the 2nd Armoured Division in the liberation of France during World War II. He is also famous for his decisive role in the liberation campaign of the cities of Paris, Strasbourg, and French Africa. His leadership, courage, and dedication make him a remarkable figure in French military history. Although he lost his life in a plane crash at just 45 years old, he had time to marry and start a family, bringing six children into the world.
9Toyoko Inn hotel
In Marseille, one of the leaders in Japanese hospitality has established its headquarters and, most notably, its first French establishment with 231 rooms. The project plans were designed by the Marseille agency Tangram, whose architects merged the principles of contemporary Japanese architecture on the facade of the 64-meter-long, 7-story building while respecting the Marseille style. The construction stands out for its simplicity of forms, colours, and precision in details. The focal point of the project lies in the facade's bright white color, particularly luminous, and the vertical, asymmetrical windows, which cleverly conceal the distribution of the hotel's different floors. A skilful choice.
13Remnants of the Huveaune Aqueduct
The Huveaune Aqueduct was built in the 13th century to meet the growing water needs of an expanding population that could no longer rely solely on wells. The aqueduct conveyed water collected from various sources in the La Pomme district to the east, to the heart of Marseille. Rendered obsolete in 1849 with the arrival of water from the Durance River into the city, its canal was filled in and replaced with a terracotta pipe.
14The Khatchkar of Etchmiadzin
This stele was offered by the Armenian city of Etchmiadzin to the Region South. This "cross stone" is adorned with characteristic decor of Armenian art.
This object serves as a reminder that the ties between Marseille and Armenia have always been strong, with the city being home to a significant Armenian community. In the early 20th century, many Armenians fled the persecutions and massacres perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire to seek refuge, notably in Marseille and other regions of France. This migration created lasting cultural, commercial, and social ties. Marseille, as a major Mediterranean port, has always been a hub for trade and culture, fostering exchanges with Armenia and other regions of the world.
15The Tribute to the Comorians
It's a simple plaque, signed by Michel Vauzelle and the elected officials of the PACA region, affixed to one of the walls of the Regional Council in tribute to the Comorian and Franco-Comorian victims of the air disaster on June 29, 2009. Marseille is considered the largest Comorian city in the world, surpassing Moroni, the capital of the archipelago, with a population of over 80,000 people. Yemenia Flight 626 was the regular connection between El Rahaba International Airport in Sanaa, Yemen, and Prince Saïd Ibrahim International Airport in Moroni, Comoros. The Airbus A310-300 crashed into the Indian Ocean, about 15 km from Mitsamiouli, Grande Comore, with 142 passengers and 11 crew members on board. The only survivor is a 12-year-old girl, found clinging to a large piece of debris floating on the ocean.