Jardin des Vestiges, Archaeological garden in 1st arrondissement, Marseille, France.
The Jardin des Vestiges is an archaeological garden in central Marseille featuring exposed foundations, harbor structures, and fortification walls from ancient Greek and Roman periods. The site reveals a network of old streets and port installations that reflect layers of history from different eras.
The remains were discovered in 1967 during construction of a major commercial center and prompted systematic excavations over several years. These findings transformed understanding of Massalia, the ancient settlement established here more than 2,500 years ago.
The garden displays everyday traces from ancient times, showing where ships were loaded and unloaded at the harbor, and fortification walls that once protected the settlement. These remains tell stories of how people lived and worked in this place long ago.
The garden connects directly to the History Museum in the adjacent commercial center, allowing visitors to explore both spaces in one visit. Most pathways through the garden are easy to walk, and shaded areas offer places to rest while viewing the remains.
The garden contains remnants of defensive towers and a gateway structure from the 2nd century BC, alongside Roman harbor quays with their original loading stairs still visible. These details show concretely how the ancient port functioned and was organized.
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