Palais du Pharo (Pharo Palace), Marseille

The Pharo Palace stands proudly on a rocky promontory at the entrance to Marseille’s Old Port. The site’s name comes from the nearby Pharo Bay, while the hill on which it was built was once known as “Moor’s Head”. The location was chosen for its strategic position, allowing an imperial residence to dominate both land and sea.

In 1852, Prince Louis-Napoleon, soon to become Napoleon III, commissioned architect Vaucher to design a grand seaside palace fit for imperial visits. The city of Marseille donated the land, and the project was later taken over by architect Lefuel, best known for his work on the Louvre Palace in Paris. Construction continued for two decades, but fate intervened: Napoleon III never stayed there, and after his death, Empress Eugénie generously gifted the Pharo Palace back to the city.

By 1904, the palace had found a new purpose as a medical school. Later, it was converted into a conference and cultural venue, and today the building regularly hosts international meetings, exhibitions, and fairs. Its restored halls and modern extensions can accommodate up to 2,500 people, blending historic architecture with contemporary function.

Architecturally, the Pharo Palace showcases the confident style of the Second Empire, with its symmetrical façade, grand terraces, and arched windows overlooking the sea. After the fall of the Empire in 1870, all imperial emblems were removed from the façade, leaving behind a dignified civic monument rather than a royal residence. The surrounding Pharo Garden is open to the public and offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views.