Place Castellane, the Epicenter of a New City

Place Castellane’s Transformation Continues

As part of the extension of tram line 3, which will connect Capitaine Gèze (in the 15th district, north of the city) to Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite (in the 9th district, south of the city), Place Castellane is set to complete its transformation this year. 

by Laura Puset

This project marks a fundamental shift for the square, originally designed under Louis XIV to link Porte d’Aix and Porte de Rome. It is evolving from a simple roundabout into a vibrant public space.What’s changing? Reduced traffic flow, with 63% of the area redesigned for pedestrians, and abundant greenery, with nearly 40 hackberry trees planted to offer shade and elegance to the restored Cantini Fountain. The tramway terminus is also being moved (to avenue Jules Cantini), alleviating congestion caused by waiting passengers and foot traffic on the narrow rue de Rome. The new design emphasizes non-motorized mobility. Rue Louis Maurel has been converted into a taxi stand and dead-end, while a new traffic lane from boulevard Baille to avenue du Prado has been implemented. Drivers will no longer circle the Cantini Fountain, listed as a historic monument. For its restoration, including a modern LED lighting system, the City of Marseille has allocated a budget of €725,000. “This is not just a renovation of Place Castellane, but a true renaissance of the whole district! This square will be as successful as the transformation of Marseille’s city center (…)!” said Martine Vassal, president of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis and the Bouches-du-Rhône Department.

“La Paupière”: Ora-ïto’s Work Keeps Castellane’s Eye Open

Beyond practical improvements, the renovation of Place Castellane is also about aesthetics. It now features an enormous bench that is set to become an iconic element of the square. “La Paupière” (“The Eyelid”), designed by Marseille-born artist Ora-ïto, is a major architectural project created in collaboration with Stoa and Nostram. The first segment of the bench, measuring about 102 meters and weighing 4 tons, was installed last April. Inspired by the Corniche bench, the Castellane version is composed of 68 sections with integrated indirect lighting, blending seamlessly with the urban landscape.
Combined with rows of hackberry trees, fresh limestone paving, and future terraces, this new setting should encourage residents to gather and reclaim the space.
“With the installation of this new bench, Place Castellane continues its transformation. After La Canebière, Place du Général-de-Gaulle, and the Opera and Centre Bourse areas, this marks another important step in the pedestrianization of Marseille’s city center, which we have been promoting since 2018,” Martine Vassal concluded.