The Palais du Pharo is a 19th century imperial residence, built on the Pharo hill at the request of the last French emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie.
The name "Pharo" (from the Occitan "faròt") designates the lighthouse that was there and delimited the entrance to the Vieux Port.
History and origin of the Palais du Pharo
At that time, to meet the needs linked to the flourishing growth of the city, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (future Napoleon III) led a major policy of development and modernization of the city's infrastructure, with in particular the construction of the Palais de la Bourse, the renovation of the Hôtel-Dieu and the commercial port of La Joliette.
Having already mentioned his wish to have a foothold in Marseille, it was thus that the city gratefully offered him the coveted Pharo plateau with its view of the sea, the Frioul Islands and the entrance to the Vieux Port.
The Palais du Pharo is a replica of the Villa Eugénie in Biarritz, larger and more luxurious, it is U-shaped and oriented in such a way as to protect itself from the Mistral.
Its particularity of being built only in stone, unlike its original model in brick, makes it take longer to build.
Delays accumulated from the start of its construction in 1854: earthworks in very hard limestone soil, difficulties in supplying stone due to the construction of the cathedral of La Major in parallel, then dismissal of the first architect who was blamed for his delays to entrust the suite to the architect of the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.
With the fall of the empire in 1871, the couple never had the opportunity to settle there and the people destroyed all the ornamental symbols linked to the monarch.
There followed a long lawsuit against the city of Marseilles, the property being finally returned to Eugénie who won her case in 1884.
Then a widow, she decided to donate the Palais du Pharo to the city of Marseilles on condition that the place be used for public purposes.
Visit and Access to the Jardin du Pharo (Pharo Garden)
The many halls of the Palais du Pharo now serve as a reception venue for the city of Marseille, congresses and the auditorium hosts performances of the Marseille Opera. The Pharo garden (Émile Duclaux) with an area of 5.7 hectares is open to the public with a play area for children and remains one of the best places to watch the fireworks on the 14th of July.- Opening hours: The Pharo garden is open all year round to the public from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.. (Free entrance)