Esplanade de la Tourette, Public square in 2nd arrondissement of Marseille, France
The esplanade de la Tourette is an open public space in the 2nd arrondissement of Marseille that runs from Rue Saint-Laurent toward the Place de la Major. The ground is bordered by historic buildings and provides a clear pathway to the adjacent Fort Saint-Jean and the church of Saint-Laurent.
The location is tied to the plague of 1720, when clearing operations took place here under official direction. A century later this ground witnessed unrest connected to urban tensions and social divisions.
The esplanade takes its name from the former Tourette Battery that once occupied this location and shaped the city's character. The monuments here reflect important moments in the life of the community.
The location sits near the Mucem museum, which is accessible via a bridge from the adjacent Fort Saint-Jean. Several bus stops in the area make it easy to reach other parts of the city from here.
The esplanade witnessed a violent incident in 1789 when citizens and guards clashed with deadly results. Though rarely discussed today, this event shaped local history during that turbulent period.
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