Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Villa La Roseraie is an iconic late 19th-century building located in the Endume district in the heart of Marseille's 7th arrondissement. This cabin, modest in appearance, is distinguished by its elaborate exterior decoration, made around 1890. The facades, the terrace and part of the garden are decorated with rock, an artistic technique typical of the region, transforming it into an intimate space evoking a "small theatre" dedicated to family life. The originality of the place lies in its architectural unit, where house, terrace and garden form a coherent set, designed as an open-air dining room.

The remarkable elements include the facades and roofs of the house, as well as the faux rock fence wall and the entrance door, all listed as historical monuments by order of 28 October 2015. The exterior decor, executed by the Marseille rocker Gaëtan Amoletti, combines sculpture and moulding to create motifs inspired by the 18th century Provencal gypseries. On the street side, a false trompe l'oeil window illustrates the art of feigned architecture, while the garden, embellished with rock works, reinforces the poetic and theatrical character of the place. This neat decor, both charming and technical, reflects the local artisanal ingenuity and the taste of the era for hybrid living spaces, between interior and exterior.

The villa La Roseraie thus embodies a modest but significant heritage, a witness to Marseille artistic traditions and the Provencal art of living at the end of the 19th century. Its recent listing among historical monuments highlights the heritage value of this cabanon, where every detail contributes to a domestic and aesthetic staging. The site, although little known to the general public, offers a rare example of conservation of a complete rock decor, combining craftsmanship and architectural creativity.

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