Marseille City Hall

Marseille City Hall is a Baroque structure with a prominent stone facade and a central loggia facing the port, displaying strong Genoese influences. The composition shows characteristic details of 17th-century urban architecture that conveys authority and civic importance.

The structure was built between 1653 and 1673 under Louis XIV's order to transform the city and replace an earlier municipal building from the 13th century. Its completion came during a period when French rulers sought to assert control over Mediterranean affairs and remake Marseille as a symbol of royal power.

The building sits at the heart of the Old Port and displays features of Provençal Baroque architecture visible in its stonework and ornamental details. Visitors can admire the facade today while experiencing the plaza atmosphere shaped by the harbor and surrounding historical structures.

The structure sits directly on the Old Port, making it easily accessible on foot and visible from various angles. The best way to appreciate the facade and architecture is to walk around Place Bargemon and linger nearby to experience how it relates to the surrounding harbor buildings.

Instead of interior staircases, an external bridge connects the floors, reflecting a historical division between merchants and officials. This unusual solution shows how social hierarchies were embedded in the building's design.