The Cours Julien district
We met at 2pm at the entrance to the Notre Dame du Mont metro station. When I arrived, the guide, Alexandra, was there and gave me a very warm welcome. The weather was fine and the tour was looking good.
Little by little, all the participants arrived, all accompanied by children or teenagers, the visit being presented as family-friendly and fun.
Once all the participants had arrived, Alexandra asked them a few questions: where were they from, did they know Marseilles, did they know the area, and what were the principles and aims of street art?
A cultural crossroads, Marseille is also a mosaic of one hundred and eleven districts. Each has its own history, atmosphere and traditions. Cours Julien is one of them, and it tells many stories. Now recognised as a haven for designers and artists, this popular district has become the cradle of street art. Many of the shops, restaurants and bars here have commissioned a street artist to create works on their shopfronts.
What stories are told in the ‘quartier des créateurs’?
The tour gets off to an entertaining start, with the guide listening to the answers of the youngest visitors, all keen to discover the history of street art and the history of the ‘Cours-Ju’ district, as it is known here in Marseille.
Here, street art illuminates and gives life to the district. Today, it represents the identity of the Cours Julien.
It’s time to look up and listen to our passionate guide.