The Fort d’Entrecasteaux is quite emblematic of the fiercely independent Marseille. Built in the XVIIe century by the order of Louis XIV, it was dubbed the worst military design ever by Vauban…. maybe that had something to do with the fact that unlike all of it’s contemporary forts, this one was not built to protect the town form foreign invaders, but to control the town itself. It’s quite representative of the defiance that Marseille had (and still has) towards Paris, and the difficulties that the central power faced to tame the rebellious spirit of Marseille.

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It is part of the Fort St Nicholas, but unlike it’s north part that houses a park and the « Palais du Pharo », the fort d »Entrecasteaux, that dominates the hill on the south part of the old harbour isn’t opened to the public because of it’s poor state of conservation. The  » Journées du patrimoine » are one of the rare occasions to discover part of this awesome building, the other one being Marseille Rockisland Festival, an open air electro gig early July that’s well worth the trip, just to hear electro music bouncing off the old stones all the way accros the harbour 🙂

It is currently being restored by Acta Vista a social foundation that works on reinsertion by teaching highly skilled restauration techniques. They do an awesome job and their realisations run from the Fort d’Entrecasteaux, to the hôpital Caroline on the Frioul Island, and the highly acclaimed gardens of the Fort St Jean: « Le jardin des migrations »

The spectacular vue from up there…

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The restored « poudrière », or gunpowder magazine

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There are always some worshops going on at the « Journées du patrimoines »: the traditional craftsmanship are presented and one can test ones  natural predisposition to traditional wall building, lime stuccoing, or slate cutting with traditional hammer (fun!!)

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The demi-lune Dauphine is currently the only completely restored part of the fort. It houses Acta vistas offices and workshops.

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