Palais Longchamp

Overview

The Palais Longchamp is a grandiose 19th-century monument built to celebrate the arrival of canal water to Marseille. Its monumental colonnade, cascading fountains, and flanking museums create one of the most spectacular architectural ensembles in the south of France.

Highlights

• The Cascade: A dramatic semicircular colonnade with a central fountain featuring sculpted bulls, tigers, and allegorical figures of the Durance River.
• Museum of Fine Arts: Housed in the left wing, with paintings by Rubens, David, and Provençal masters.
• Natural History Museum: The right wing houses one of France's oldest natural history collections, recently renovated.

History

Completed in 1869 by architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu (who also designed Notre-Dame de la Garde), the palace was built to mark the completion of the Canal de Marseille, which brought water from the Durance River to the chronically water-starved city.

Visitor Tips

• The Park: The gardens behind the palace are a lovely, shaded green space with a small zoo — the oldest in France (1854).
• Photography: The colonnade and fountain are most dramatic in morning light.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes (exterior and gardens; add 1–2 hours for museums).