Degaby Island

Let’s go back in time

In 1680, Louis XIV had a fort built on the island, “Fort de Tourville”, to protect the city from possible maritime attacks from the south of Marseille. The island remained a military possession for a long time, and it wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century, around 1915, that the army parted with it. The island was then bought by André Laval, a wealthy industrialist from Marseilles, who gave it to his wife, Liane Degaby, a music-hall performer. The island became a festive place where all the bourgeoisie of Marseilles came to party. This wealthy industrialist owned some real works of art, which attracted covetousness, and it was around 1921 that thieves broke into the property and looted the island. The despondent owners left. For almost 40 years, the island was abandoned. It was then bought up by a number of people, all of whom had eccentric plans for the island, but none of them ever saw the light of day. In 1990, L’île Degaby was bought by jeweler Pascal Morabito, who renovated the island and turned it into his artists’ residence. He also hosted a number of soirées there. In 2001, the island was once again bought by property developers and then sold. Today, Île Degaby belongs to a Belgian group and is managed by the “Société d’exploitation de l’île Degaby”. The group has invested heavily in refurbishing the fortress (kitchen, gardens, roof terrace, reception room, etc.), hosting private events, seminars and parties. In 2023, it was possible to dine there for one-off events and enjoy a unique experience.