Balade dans le Marseille du XIXème siècle

The Cours Saint-Louis continues into rue de Rome. Turn into the 3rd street on your left, rue Vacon.

L’incrocio Cours Belsunce - Cours Saint-LouisMarseille 1er

This is where Noailles really comes into its own. An aristocratic district in the 17th century, it became the heart of Marseille in the 19th century. Immerse yourself in Mediterranean cultures in a colourful effervescence.

The covered market was demolished in 1981. But they once housed a fish market that was originally located on the Cours St-Louis. It was moved here because of the strong smells that bothered the clientele of the luxury hotels lining the Canebière.

The name has stuck, and today the square is home to the stalls of 3 greengrocers specialising in fruit and exotic produce from all over the world.

There are many shops offering specialities from the Maghreb. You are plunged into a world of colourful spices and varied scents. Marseille is undoubtedly a gateway to the Orient, and the abundance of culture here reflects the cross-fertilisation that has shaped and influenced the city.

The Capucins market, dedicated to fruit and vegetables, was founded in 1956. It is the cheapest market in the town centre. However, it does not sell organic or sustainable produce. The square was redeveloped in 2018. It is adorned with a statue of Peace. This is also where the tram line that runs to the east of the city leaves from. The tramway runs through a tunnel under a covered market built in 1837. In 1887 it was converted into a labour exchange (which has since moved) and today the long building houses the departmental branch of the Force Ouvrière trade union.

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Marché des CapucinsMarseille 1er

This is the city's oldest lycée, founded in 1802 and originally housed in the Bernardines convent. If you cross the boulevard Garibaldi, you will have just passed it. As part of the Aix et Marseille education authority, this state school achieves excellent success rates every year in national examinations, including the BEPC, the baccalauréat and entrance examinations for the grandes écoles. The school has countless notable male alumni, including Adolphe Monticelli, Edmond Rostand, Marcel Pagnol, Gabriel Péri, Édouard Balladur and Pierre Barbizet.... The lycée only became co-ed from the start of the school year in 1975!

The Place du Lycée Thiers is extended by the Rue du Théâtre Français, where the Théâtre du Gymnase is located on the left, easily recognisable by its red wrought iron balcony and series of 6 Ionic monolithic columns.

Leave the square by turning right into rue Mazagran. At the end, turn left into rue Sénac de Meilhan. This street is one of the most successful examples of spontaneous planting in Marseille city centre, where local residents are keen to maintain their own little patch of greenery. At the end of the street, you come out onto the Canebière again, which you have to walk up towards the Eglise des Réformés.

This cultural complex opened at the end of 2021.

Walk up the Canebière past the giraffe-shaped bookmark, a tribute to the famous Zarafa, who travelled by boat from Egypt to Marseille. Accustomed to the African climate, she spent the winter of 1826 in the city to acclimatise. In April 1827, she made the journey on foot to Paris, where she was presented to King Charles X.

Artplexe CanebièreMarseille 1er

At the foot of the church are two shops steeped in the city's history: the Plauchut patisserie and the Chez Noël pizzeria, two Marseilles institutions. Cross the various streets to reach the Square Stalingrad and its fountain.

Eglise les Réformés - Saint-Vincent de PaulMarseille 1er

Leave the Cours Joseph Thierry by walking up it to the right, passing under the tree-lined driveway that leads to the last two highlights of the tour.

Fontaine des DanaïdesMarseille 1er

This is the end of our urban walk. You can extend it by discovering the English-style garden of the Palais Longchamp, located at the back of the building.