Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture hotel was built between 1862 and 1866 under the impulse of Charlemagne Émile de Maupas, prefect of the department. The latter, dissatisfied with his accommodation at Hotel Roux de Corse (now Montgrand High School), ordered a palace worthy of his rank. The project, entrusted to the departmental architect Auguste Martin, was approved in 1861. The work began after the acquisition of the land and the demolition of the existing buildings on the site of the old ramparts of 1669. Special foundations had to be created because of the instability of the ground, a recurring challenge, as later demonstrated by the construction of an underground parking lot.

In 1864, Auguste Martin resigned due to disagreements with Maupas and budget overruns. He was replaced by François-Joseph Nolau, an expert in interior decorations. The works were completed at the end of 1866, but Maupas, deposed by imperial decree, still inaugurated the building on 1 January 1867. The building, of sumptuous style, reflected the ambitions of the Second Empire, with facades decorated with statues of Eugene-Louis Lequesne and Pierre Travaux, representing local historical figures such as King René or Mirabeau.

During the Commune of Marseilles in 1871, the prefecture was taken by the insurgents on 22 March. Gaston Crémieux proclaimed solidarity with the Paris Commune. On April 4, General Espivent de La Villesboisnet had the city bombed from Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, then nicknamed "Our Lady of Bombarde". After 280 shells were fired, the prefecture fell on 5 April after 10 hours of fighting. The building, registered with the Historic Monuments in 1979, retains protected elements such as the grand staircase of honor, salons and imperial rooms.

Architecturally, the prefecture is distinguished by its parallelogram plan (90 m x 80 m) and richly carved facades. The northern facade, main, overlooks the Place de la Préfecture and has four statues, including those of Jean V de Pontevès and Portalis. The windows vary according to the floors: circular frontons on the ground floor, triangular on the first floor, and rectangular on the upper floor. The inner courtyard also houses statues of Jean Marcellin, celebrating personalities such as Puget or Suffren.

The site, accessible via Estrangin metro station - Prefecture, illustrates the political and architectural history of Marseille. Its inscription in 1979 protects its facades, roofs, and interior decorations, witness to the opulence of the Second Empire and the tumults of the Commune. The sources, including the works of Denise Jasmin (1996) and the departmental archives, highlight his central role in local and national history.

External links