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Palace · Marselha, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Palais Longchamp
Monumental 19th-century palace with a cascading fountain, built to celebrate the arrival of water from the river Durance to Marseille. The wings house the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Muséum d'histoire naturelle, and behind it lies the Parc Longchamp.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Palais Longchamp
Marseille suffered from water shortages for centuries. The solution came with the Canal de Marseille, which brings water from the river Durance. To commemorate the work, the city built the Palais Longchamp, designed by Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, the same architect of Notre-Dame de la Garde. The foundation stone was laid in 1839 and the complex was not finished until 1869.
The centerpiece is the château d'eau, a semicircular colonnade with a large cascading fountain and a sculptural group representing the river Durance, flanked by personifications of wheat and the vine. Water flows down cascades into basins at street level.
The left wing houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of the first fine arts museums established in France in 1801, with works from the 16th to the 19th centuries; admission to the permanent collections is free. The right wing houses the Muséum d'histoire naturelle.
Behind the palace is the Parc Longchamp, a garden recognized as a Jardin remarquable, good for a shady break away from the hustle of the center.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half an hour for the façade and the park. With the Musée des Beaux-Arts, two hours.
Best time
During the day, Tuesday to Sunday; the museums are closed on Mondays (check before you go). On very windy days the park may close, which also affects access to the museum.
How to get there
Metro line 1, Cinq-Avenues Longchamp station, or tram T2, Longchamp stop. From the Canebière you can also walk via Boulevard Longchamp in about 25 minutes.
Tip
Visit in the morning and then walk down Boulevard Longchamp to the Canebière and the Vieux-Port. Check whether all the museum rooms will be open, because sometimes floors are closed for a few days.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Palais Longchamp
What's inside the Palais Longchamp?
Two museums: the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the left wing and the Muséum d'histoire naturelle in the right wing.
Is there an entrance fee for the Musée des Beaux-Arts?
Permanent collections are usually free; temporary exhibitions may charge. It closes on Mondays. Check before you go.
Why does the palace have such a large fountain?
It celebrates the arrival of water from the river Durance to Marselha via the canal built in the 19th century.