Look carefully: on each side of the bank, the Old Port is bordered by a fort. Spotlight on two flagship buildings in Marseille, accessible on foot from your hotel.
Marseille, fortified city since Antiquity
Marseille has had urban fortifications since Antiquity.
From the reign of Francis I onwards, it was decided to use the hill of the guard as an observation post with the fort of Notre Dame de la Garde.
In 1660, new constructions were planned: it involved building 2 forts facing each other at the entrance to the Old Port.
- Le Fort Saint-Jean – which is today incorporated into the vast space dedicated to the MUCEM – adjoins the King René Tower. It stands on the same bank as your hotel.
Allow 5 to 8 minutes to reach it. - Le Fort Saint Nicholas is opposite, in the immediate vicinity of Pharo gardens.
Allow 15 minutes to walk along the port to reach it.
Spotlight on Fort Saint-Nicolas
Fort Saint Nicolas, made partly of pink stones from Cap Couronne , is a work of the knight Louis Nicolas de Clerville.
The architect Vauban, who was not involved in the construction of this citadel, offered a critical look at its creation at the time.
He believes it is " a truly magnificent assemblage of everything extravagant and ridiculous that has ever passed through the minds of the world's most wicked engineers ."
Today it is used for festivals during the summer. It is also from Fort Saint-Nicolas that part of the fireworks on July 14 is fired.
The fort is not open to the public, but the Pharo gardens, whose entrance is opposite, are worth a visit!
Fort Saint-Jean: a stroll along the water
The construction of Fort Saint Jean is also the work of the Chevalier de Clerville.
The Fort served as a prison and, until 1944, housed the marble tide gauge whose coast was used to level all altitudes in France.
The device was destroyed at the same time as the transporter bridge that crossed the Old Port.
Today, with the King René Tower, the Fort allows you to take a very nice walk along the water.
You take the opportunity to discover the entrance to the Old Port, the MUCEM with the Frioul Islands in your sights.
Within the building, which can be reached via two aerial walkways, take a break in the heart of the Mediterranean gardens with relaxation areas.
