Maison Diamantée (Diamond House), Marseille

The Diamond House owes its name to the diamond-shaped stones that decorate its façade, an elegant example of diamond-point masonry typical of late Renaissance architecture. It is among Marseille’s best-preserved historic residences. Built on the grounds of the former Palace of Provence gardens by wealthy Spanish and Italian merchants, the house dates from the late 16th or early 17th century, reflecting the prosperity of the city’s international trading elite.

Over time, it was home to several notable Marseille families, including Peter Sebolin de Bollena, the city’s second sheriff in 1685, and his nephew, first sheriff in 1702. In 1943, the house narrowly escaped destruction when German occupation forces razed much of the north side of the Old Port. From 1967 to 2009, it housed the Museum of Old Marseille, whose collections were later incorporated into the Marseille History Museum.

Today, the Diamond House is primarily used for municipal offices. The building itself is not generally open to the public, but visitors can still admire its façade and monumental staircase. Its finely carved portal, mullioned windows, and sculpted stonework mark the transition between Gothic and Renaissance styles, preserving a link to Marseille’s mercantile past.