Vauban district

Historical heritage of the Vauban district

Key events

A look back at the history of this historic district of Marseille. In 1645, the area was almost completely undeveloped. It was not until more than a century later that urbanisation began to develop. The district owes its name to Vauban, a famous engineer, architect, Marshal of France and General Commissioner of Fortifications under Louis XIV, who was responsible for the fortifications in the city. In addition to Marseille, Vauban was responsible for the construction of more than a hundred fortifications throughout France, including Besançon, Lille, Brest, Douai, Dunkirk and Versailles.

In the 1850s, new streets appeared, starting from the Puget district. In 1851, a basin was dug to supply the site with water. This was fed by water from the Marseille canal. In 1864, the Bishop of Marseille decided to build a parish called Saint-François d’Assise, located just opposite of the Maison du Peuple.

Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica

You can’t go through the 6th arrondissement without visiting the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica. This is the most visited monument in Marseille. Overlooking the city, it offers a breathtaking panoramic view with the sea in the background.

In 1214, the priest Pierre decided to build a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The number of pilgrims increased so much that in the 19th century, the basilica we know today was built on the initiative of Monseigneur de Mazenod, in order to be able to welcome more visitors.

The work was completed in 1864. Today, the basilica is a place of worship in the city of Marseille. Its statue of the Virgin Mary is a symbol of protection for the people of Marseille, but also for sailors and fishermen.

You can reach the building either on foot, by bus n°60 or by tourist train, according to your wishes. For more information, please contact the Marseille Tourist Office.