Place Castellane, square in the 6th arrondissement of Marseille, France
Place Castellane is a public square in the 6th arrondissement of Marseille, France. It features a central fountain with three figures representing Provencal rivers, surrounded by roads and buildings.
The square was laid out in 1774 on land given by Henri-César de Castellane-Majastre. An obelisk that once stood there was moved to Mazargues in 1911, and a new fountain by Jules Cantini and André-Joseph Allar replaced it in 1913.
The fountain at the center is a common meeting point for locals, and its figures of the Durance, the Gardon, and the Rhône are often pointed out to visitors. The square also appears in Joseph Conrad's novel The Arrow of Gold, which some readers come to see for themselves.
The square is a busy junction, so use the pedestrian crossings to move between its sides. It is easy to reach on foot or by public transport, and you can visit at any time of day.
The original obelisk served as a public washhouse before it was moved to Mazargues. The current fountain was a gift from Jules Cantini, a local patron who also funded other works in Marseille.
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