Marseille is not just about the sea and limestone: the city boasts nearly 1,000 hectares of parks and gardens open to the public, some of which are well worth a half-day excursion during your stay at the Hotel Belle-VueFrom Palais Longchamp, 15 minutes away by metro, to Parc Pastré at the foot of the Marseilleveyre hills, here is our selection of the 6 most beautiful parks and gardens in Marseille with their history, access and our advice for 2026.
1. Palais Longchamp — the monumental 19th century waterfall
Inaugurated on August 15, 1869, by the Marseille architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu (also the architect of Notre-Dame de la Garde), the Palais Longchamp celebrates the arrival of water from the Durance River in Marseille—a sanitary revolution for a city suffering from cholera epidemics. The architectural design is spectacular: a monumental cascade framed by semicircular colonnades, two symmetrical pavilions housing museums, and a park at the rear.
What we find there
- Museum of Fine Arts (left wing) — one of the oldest in France, created by imperial decree in 1801
- Museum of Natural History (right wing) — created in 1819
- Longchamp Park At the rear: botanical garden, former zoological garden converted into a bandstand (no animals since 1987), family playgrounds
Access from the Hotel Belle-Vue
Take metro line 1 from Vieux-Port and get off at Cinq Avenues – Longchamp (10 min). Entry to the park is free, but there is an entrance fee for the museums (€8). It has been a listed historical monument since 1997. The late afternoon is ideal for the light on the waterfall.
2. Borély Park — the most visited park in Marseille
17 hectares of green space south of Marseille, a few minutes from the Prado beaches. Borély Park juxtaposes a French-style garden (from the 18th century, legacy of the engineer Embry, 1775) and a landscaped park laid out between 1860 and 1880 by Alphand (the same one who designed the Buttes-Chaumont in Paris).
What we find there
- Rose of more than 200 varieties (flowering May-June)
- Botanical Garden with rare species
- Body of water with a boat dock (boat rentals in season)
- Rockery waterfall + sculpture "The Man with Birds" by Jean-Michel Folon (installed in 1995)
- Two playgrounds and large lawns for picnics
- Educational pathway with identification signs for the plants and birds of the lake
Directions
Bus 19 or 83 from the Old Port, stop "Parc Borély" (20-25 min). Can be combined with a day at the adjacent Prado beaches. Free entry, 7am-21pm in summer.
3. Château Borély — Museum of Decorative Arts
Built in 1767 on the Bonneveine estate by the merchant Louis Borély to rival the finest Provençal country houses. The Italianate architect J.-L. Clérisseau drew up the plans, while Esprit Brun, from the Comtat Venaissin region, lightened the decoration. The Aubagne painter Louis Chaix (1744-1811), sent to study in Italy at the Borély family's expense, designed sumptuous trompe-l'œil and monochrome decorations with mythological subjects.
Since 1995, the château has housed the Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware, and Fashion . The guestbook, kept on site, bears the signatures of Charles VI of Spain, the Duchess of Berry, Alfred de Vigny, and Eugène Scribe. Admission: €6 (free on the first Sunday of the month).
4. Pastré Park — 120 hectares at the foot of the hills
Between Pointe Rouge and Grotte Rolland, Parc Pastré (also known as "Campagne Pastré") stretches over 120 hectares to the foothills of Marseilleveyre. It was created between 1836 and 1853 by the Pastré family, wealthy merchants from Marseille.
An exceptional cultural history
Under Countess Lily Pastré, the estate became a refuge for artists during the Occupation : musicians, painters, and writers hid there. It is one of the key sites of 20th-century French cultural resistance. Three historic castles stand on the estate:
- Pastré Castle (bricks and stones): has housed the Museum of Earthenware since 1995 (linked to Borély Castle)
- Estrangin Castle (Nordic style): municipal recreation center
- Sanderval Castle private property
Vegetation and fauna
Aleppo pines, holm oaks, laurustinus, "mourven" (Provençal) junipers, umbrella pines, yuccas, bamboo. Small artificial lakes, ducks, swans. In the 19th century, ostriches were even raised there.
Directions
Bus 19 from the Old Port, stop "Montredon". 35-minute journey. Ideal for a long walk at the foot of the Marseilleveyre calanques.
5. Parc Valmer — the Belle Époque villa facing the harbor
On the Corniche Kennedy, a promontory overlooking the harbor shelters the Villa Valmer and its lush park. Built at the end of the 19th century by the Salon merchant Charles Gonnelle, the villa was originally named "Vague à la Mer", contracted to "Valmer".
The path winds its way towards one of Marseille's most beautiful viewpoints, through exceptional exotic vegetation: Trachycarpus palms, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia, as well as local species (olive trees, Aleppo pines, mastic trees, strawberry trees) and cascading perennials. The typical 19th-century cement-artificial rock gardens add a unique charm.
Access : Bus 83 from the Old Port, stop "Valmer". 15 min. The park is one of the most photogenic in Marseille at sunset.
6. Jardin du Pharo — a 10-minute walk from the hotel
The Palais du Pharo , commissioned by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie, overlooks the entrance to the Old Port. Its 6-hectare garden offers one of the most iconic views of Marseille: the Old Port, the Mucem, Notre-Dame de la Garde, and the Frioul archipelago, all in one panorama.
The closest of the Hotel Belle-Vue 10-minute walk via Boulevard Charles Livon. Free entry, open year-round. Combine with the Plage des Catalans beach below for a perfect half-day outing.
FAQ — Parks and gardens of Marseille
Which park should I choose if I only have half a day?
The Jardin du Pharo (10 min walk from the hotel) for the view, or the Parc Longchamp (10 min by metro) for history and museums.
Which park is suitable for children?
Borély Park for playgrounds, lake and boat rentals.
Are all parks free?
Yes to access to the parks (Longchamp, Borély, Pastré, Valmer, Pharo). The museums and the castles they house charge admission (€5-8), with free entry on the first Sunday of the month.
Are there any EcoJardin certified parks in Marseille?
Yes — Borély, Longchamp, and several others hold the EcoJardin label for their ecological management (zero pesticides, biodiversity, water conservation). Consistent with our Green Key commitment.
What is the best season to visit them?
April-June for flowering (rose gardens, magnolias), September-October for autumn colours and mild temperatures. Avoid midday in July-August for Pastré and Longchamp (little shade).
Book your green getaway in Marseille
The hotel Belle-Vue is the strategic address for exploring Marseille's parks: rooms facing the Old PortMetro line 1 opposite the hotel, bus 19/83 200 meters away, and Pharo 10 minutes walk away. Book your room.
