Palais Longchamp

Marseille, France

The Palais Longchamp houses the Musée des beaux-arts (Museum of Fine Arts) and Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Marseille (Natural History Museum). The surrounding Longchamp Park is listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France.

The Palais Longchamp was created to celebrate the construction of the Canal de Marseille, which was built to bring water from the river Durance to Marseille. Although the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Orleans on 15 November 1839, the building took 30 years to complete, partly because of the enormous expense and partly because of difficulties with local regulations. Designed by the architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, the building was centered on the structure and elaborate fountain known as the château d'eau ('water castle').

Musée des beaux-arts de Marseille

The Musée des beaux-arts de Marseille is one of the main museums in the city of Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It occupies a wing of the Palais Longchamp, and displays a collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Muséum d’histoire naturel de Marseille

The Natural History Museum of Marseille is one of the most visited natural history museums in France. It was founded in 1819 by Jean-Baptiste, marquis de Montgrand and Christophe de Villeneuve-Bargemon.

The park

Longchamp Park was opened in 1869, at the same time as the palace; in addition, the art and natural-history collections, which had been housed elsewhere, moved into the palace at this time. The park also contained a zoo, which was run by the city from 1898 until 1987, when, because of public disaffection with traditional zoos, it was closed.

At the summit of the fountain are sculptures of four large bulls and three women—a central figure representing the Durance flanked by one who represents grapes and one who represents wheat and fertility. Behind the women, within the central structure of the palace, is a manmade stone grotto decorated with carved stalactites and nymphs. From beneath the three women and from the bulls, water flows into a secondary basin, and then into an artificial pond. The water drains out of the pond into underground pipes, from which it emerges in a waterfall-like structure, and in twelve ornate bronze fountains lined alongside it, flowing into a second, larger pond.

The central feature of the garden behind the palace is a classic garden à la française, which is known as the Jardin du plateau. The garden also includes an English landscape garden, with winding alleys and many notable trees, including a 150-year-old plane tree and an oak and a Siberian elm that are both 120 years old.

The area that was occupied by the 19th-century zoo still contains many of its picturesque buildings in fantastic styles, including oriental pavilions for the giraffe and elephant, cages ornamented with Turkish tiles, and bear cages and seal dens decorated with rocaille, or rock-work.

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Details

Founded: 1839
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in France

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User Reviews

Llenaj (13 months ago)
Such a beautiful place. But behind the Palais, you may find a few derelicts. That was a good while ago, and it may have changed. Marseille was my favorite place in France. The food, diversity of the people, it was nice to hop on and off the train or tram, and I loved just shopping there.
Caroline Findlay (2 years ago)
Beautiful ornate building and grounds. The architecture and workmanship are stunning. If you wander up the steps you can also gain access to the gorgeous gardens behind. I didn’t get a chance to visit the museum as it was closed, but I still enjoyed admiring the magnificent palace and grounds.
Stanislav Degtjarjov (2 years ago)
Fountains sound will dissolve the city one, sculptures are massive but very natural, bulls are holding an entire city the building is hiding secrets on seals of the massive and grotesque building. Behind it you will find a park that will reopen something that is hidden in you. Sit, relax and enjoy the view of the city through the art of the construction guarded by the amazing statue. I will not tell to you an entire history of this palace. Go, visit, explore :-)
RnV Marty (2 years ago)
What a lovely place to visit. I was content just taking photos from the outside the gate but then saw it was free to wander the grounds as well. It was definitely worth the long walk there (or you could use public transportation but we had not figured it out yet so we just walked).
Matthew Rasch (2 years ago)
The park is fabulous and absolutely gorgeous. The water fountains are very pretty and refreshing. Walking around the columns and winding staircases brings joy to the soul. The museum is good, but small and a little outdated. However in since the last time I was here maybe 8 years ago, they’ve added English and Spanish to the description cards. Great place to take great photos!
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