Phare de Sainte Marie

Phare de Sainte Marie is a cylindrical limestone tower located on the north side of Passe de la Joliette with a metal lantern and gallery at its summit. The structure stands about 70 feet (21 meters) tall and continues to mark the entrance to the historic port of Marseille.

Engineer Léonce Reynaud designed this maritime structure in 1855 to guide vessels safely into the commercial port during Marseille's rapid industrial expansion. The construction was part of the major port development that reshaped the harbor in the 1800s.

The lighthouse represents Marseille's maritime past and stands today as a silent witness to the port's former bustling activity. Visitors can admire the architectural details of the tower from outside while understanding the story of the harbor's role in the city's development.

The structure is not open to the public but can be viewed from outside near the adjacent harbor area and nearby walkways. The best views are from the paths around Joliette, especially when walking along the harbor edge where you can see the tower and its details clearly.

The tower wall features small slit-like openings known as meurtrières that give the structure a fortification-like appearance quite unusual for a lighthouse. The lantern still carries its original greenish patina, a detail that gives the tower its distinctive character today.