Palais du Pharo, Marseille, France

The Palais du Pharo is an elegant imperial palace in Marseille. It was built in 1858 by Emperor Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie. The emperor never stayed at the Pharo. After his death in 1873, his wife, Empress Eugenie, granted the palace to the city.

In 1904, it was transformed into a specialised establishment: the Pharo School. Its full name was first the Colonial Troops Health Service Application School, then it evolved into the Institute of Tropical Medecine of the Army Health Service. Until 2013, when it was finally closed, and for more than 100 years, the Pharo welcomed 8,000 doctors, pharmacists, and civilian or military technicians called upon to practice medecine in the overseas territories. It was even the only military institute in Europe specialising in the field of tropical medecine.

Palaces, manors and town halls in France

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Angel Khong (2 years ago)
It was a royal residence offered to Napoleon III by the city, now a congress centre.

Anna Onyshchenko (2 years ago)
A must see in Marseille, it is overlooking the sea, so you get some beautiful views of the old port.

Doug Blankenship (2 years ago)
One of the best views of Marseille from the park.

Ralu N. (2 years ago)
Amazing place to enjoy outdoors with amazing view over the sea.

Veronika Wilčkova (2 years ago)
Palace in a beautiful location. View not only of the harbor, but also of Notre Dame, the islands of If and Frioul. A nice place for a walk, a picnic, relaxing with a view or yoga time. I highly recommend coming here for the sunset (just be careful, it is very windy here).

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Photo from Flickr, copyright discopalace

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Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Palais du Pharo

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