©Friche La Belle De Maimassimomunicchi 159|Massimo Municchi

A trip with friends to Friche la Belle de Mai

Between industrial wasteland and cultural playground, some places are best discovered by more than one person. During a trip with friends, we immersed ourselves in the heart of the Friche la Belle de Mai, the emblematic Marseilles site where art, festivities and conviviality come together under the open sky. Here’s a look back at an intense, lively and resolutely collective urban experience.

Sophie Charvet

Marseille in 3 words

Dynamic, sunny and captivating

A vibrant setting

Ready to embark on an urban adventure? It was in the heart of Marseille’s working-class Belle de Mai district that we discovered an extraordinary place: the Friche la Belle de Mai. A place apart, vibrant, but above all deeply alive. More than just a cultural site, La Friche is a meeting place for art, music, sport, conviviality and innovation.
As soon as we arrive, the scene is set: former tobacco factories reinvented, walls covered in street art, huge spaces that breathe creativity, everything is in motion. You don’t visit the Friche, you walk through it, you explore it, you have a real experience. Here, 100,000 m² are devoted to art, shows, encounters and everyday life.
Strolling through the corridors and passageways with my friends, you come across families, students, artists and the curious. There seems to be a place for everyone.

Exhibitions beckon

First stop: the 2,500 m² ofexhibition space. From one room to the next, we discover works that challenge, question and amaze. La Friche is also a place of creation and dissemination, where 70 resident structures work to invent new cultural and social models. We soon realise that this is not just a visit, but a plunge into a creative ecosystem that has an impact far beyond Marseille.

A convivial break

After this artistic bath, it’s time to relax. Head for one of the restaurants to share a meal, sit out on the terrace, chat or leaf through a book from the bookshop next door. Meanwhile, children are playing in the play areas and skaters are doing tricks on the skate park.
That’s what La Friche is all about – a place where you can come for a thousand reasons, and where everyone goes at their own pace, whether you’re a culture buff, a sports fan, or just looking for a place to meet.

The highlight: the ON AIR roof terrace

But the highlight of our adventure (literally and figuratively) was the discovery of the roof terrace. Up there, Marseille stretches as far as the eye can see. In summer, the evenings come alive with the ON AIR evenings: an open-air festival of carte blanche performances by producers and collectives from all over the world.
As the sun sets over the city, Marseille gradually lights up, and we’re lulled to sleep by the eclectic sounds echoing from the rooftop. The atmosphere is electric, but inclusive, open to all musical aesthetics. We dance, we laugh, we share a drink, with that rare feeling of being part of a unique, timeless moment.

©Friche La Belle De Maimassimomenucci 88|Massimo Municchi

One place, a thousand memories

As we left late that evening, we all had the same impression: the Friche la Belle de Mai is not just a place, it’s a journey. A blend of industrial memory and contemporary effervescence, it embodies urban transformation, artistic creation and living together.
Whether you’re from Marseilles or just passing through, one thing’s for sure: you need to experience this collective space at least once, and let yourself be surprised by the magic of a place that pulsates to the rhythm of the city.

Because in Marseille, some places you can’t just visit… they have to be experienced.

Book your visit (in french only)

#frichelabelledemaiFollow us!@marseilleexperience