When you have breakfast on the balcony-terrace of La Caravelle, the hotel's bar-restaurant Belle-VueYour gaze sweeps across the pedestrianized Old Port of today. But this familiar landscape has undergone dramatic transformations: a vanished transporter bridge, a bombing, a reconstruction, and the recent arrival of solar-powered shuttles. A journey through time from your room overlooking the port.
1905: the transporter bridge, a now-vanished engineering structure
Imagine the entrance to Marseille's Old Port with, perched 50 meters above the water , a gondola suspended from a metal deck connecting Fort Saint-Jean to Fort Saint-Nicolas. This is the transporter bridge , inaugurated in 1905 and designed by the engineer Ferdinand Arnodin — the same one who built those in Rouen, Nantes and Rochefort.
His clever trick: not to disrupt maritime traffic. A gondola suspended from cables transported pedestrians, horses, and even vehicles from one bank to the other in 1 minute 30 seconds , without hindering ship traffic. At the top of the structure, 50 meters above the ground, there was even a panoramic restaurant where, of course, bouillabaisse was served.
1944: Destruction and Silence
On August 22, 1944, during the fighting for the Liberation of Marseille, the retreating Germans dynamited the bridge to slow the Allied advance. The structure collapsed into the port. Marseille lost an industrial and urban symbol that would likely have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site had it survived until the 1990s. For decades, the north and south banks of the Old Port faced each other without a direct connection, due to the lack of a rebuilt bridge.
2013: pedestrianization of the quay and the Ombrière
The year Marseille-Provence was European Capital of Culture marked the partial pedestrianization of the Old Port : the fast-moving traffic lanes that bordered the water were removed to give the space back to pedestrians. It was also in that year that Norman Foster's Ombrière was inaugurated , this 1,000 m² mirror at shoulder height that reflects the city from below — one of the most shared selfies in Marseille.
Today: Ferry-Boat and electro-solar shuttles
Without a rebuilt bridge, crossing the port is still done by boat—but in a carbon-neutral way. The Ferry-Boat , in operation since 1880, is now powered by solar-electric energy and connects the town hall to Place aux Huiles in 5 minutes for the symbolic price of €0,50. An electric shuttle also provides service between the MUCEM and Palais du Pharo during the season.
For urban history enthusiasts, also check out our guide to the transformation of the Old Port by Pierre Puget.
Why the Hotel Belle-Vue is the best vantage point
The building of Belle-Vue Dating from the 19th century — it was already standing facing the port when the transporter bridge was inaugurated, and it was still there to witness its destruction. Since its rooms with views of the Old PortToday you are observing the same panorama, simply updated to version 2026.
FAQ — History of the Old Port of Marseille
Are there any remains of the transporter bridge?
No, the structure was completely destroyed in 1944 and dismantled after the war. A few pieces are on display at the Marseille History Museum, located a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
How much does the ferry crossing cost?
€0,50 per trip in 2026, a deliberately symbolic price to preserve local use. The ferry runs every 10 minutes during the day.
Is there a plan to rebuild the bridge?
Regularly discussed, but never implemented. The cost and impact on the iconic silhouette of the port have been debated for 80 years.
Where can I see archive photos of the Old Port?
The Marseille History Museum, the Mucem (permanent collections) and the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Archives hold the richest collections. Several are available online.
Book your room facing 120 years of history
The panorama of the Old Port changes, but the Hotel Belle-Vue has remained in the same place since the 19th century. Book your room and watch history unfold live from your window.
