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Key figures

Origin and history

The castle Borély, built in the 18th century in Marseille, was designed as a summer residence for Louis Borély, a wealthy merchant from Marseille. Upon his return from Egypt in 1767, he entrusted the project to architect Jean-Louis Clérisseau, whose italianist style was adapted by Esprit Brun. Louis Borély's son, Louis-Joseph Denis, supervised the works and commissioned the painter Louis Chaix to decorate the interior with mythological frescoes and trompe-l'oeil, creating a masterpiece of the Provencal bastide.

Acquired by the city in 1856, the castle will house the Museum of Archaeology until 1989. Since 2013, it has hosted the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode, highlighting various collections: furniture, ceramics, glasses, tapestries and fashion. The works, presented in period rooms, include faiences of the Marseille and Moustiers manufactures, paintings by Philippe Rey, and contemporary creations by designers and designers.

The museum is distinguished by its journey combining heritage and modernity, with rare pieces such as painted leathers, Zuber's panoramic wallpapers, and Louis Chaix's decorative sets. Temporary exhibitions regularly renew presentations, while works commissioned by current designers integrate into the permanent journey. The castle, labeled Musée de France, illustrates the climax of Provencal art of living in the Enlightenment.

Ranked a Historical Monument, the Borély estate also bears witness to the urban history of Marseille. Its location in the 8th arrondissement, near the Borély Park, makes it a major cultural place in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The building combines neoclassical architecture with Baroque decorations, reflecting the Mediterranean and European influences of its time.

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