Arsenal des galères, Military arsenal near the Old Port in Marseille, France.
The Arsenal des Galères is a 17th-century naval facility at Marseille's harbor featuring a distinctive L-shaped design. The complex spreads along the waterfront and continues to define the boundaries between Quai des Belges and Rive-Neuve.
The facility was built between 1665 and 1669 under Colbert's direction during Louis XIV's reign. It served as the base for the French Mediterranean galley fleet and was a key naval center of that era.
The site recalls a harsh chapter of maritime life, when thousands of condemned prisoners were forced to row the galleys as their sentence. This practice shaped harbor life for nearly a century until it came to an end.
The former administrative building stands on Cours Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves and is easy to locate. The setting offers a clear view of how the historic harbor architecture blends with current activities along the waterfront.
At its peak around 1690, the facility housed around forty galleys, making it the last major naval base devoted to this ancient type of warship. This made it a striking witness to the shift from ancient to modern naval warfare.
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