Did you know the Montée de Borel in Marseille owes its name to a family? The Borel family once owned the main farm overlooking the railway line. Let’s explore this area.
The Montée de Borel is located in the 15th arrondissement. It is near Saint-Antoine and Les Aygalades. This area wasn’t always urban.
The name “Borel” comes from the Occitan word “borèl.” It originally meant a cushion stuffed with coarse wool. Over time, it evolved to mean a ring-shaped cushion. These cushions were used for carrying burdens on the head. Later, it referred to padded collars for draught animals and then harnesses. So, the name has agricultural roots.
In 1878, historian Alfred Saurel described the area. He called it Les Bourelly. It was a small hamlet nestled on a hillside. It was near Les Baumions and bordered Septèmes. Unlike other Marseille districts, Les Borels didn’t grow from a village center.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area transformed. Lime kilns appeared. Farms and country houses gradually disappeared. The railway line and the Marseille canal emerged. Today, some old country houses and sheds remain. They hint at the area’s rural past along the Montée de Borel.
During the Battle of Marseille in 1944, Algerian riflemen played a key role. They took the north-eastern axis of Les Borels. This move surprised the German defenses. The Foresta camp’s batteries severely hit the area. These batteries protected the German flank. They blocked the northern entrance to Marseille. The Montée de Borel and its surroundings faced heavy fighting.
After World War II, the district changed significantly. The Saint-Antoine motorway tunnel was built in 1947. This led to increased immigration. Housing estates and apartment blocks multiplied. The tunnel became a gateway to modern Marseille. Concrete bas-reliefs decorate the tunnel. To the north, they show Saint-Victor Abbey and Marseille town hall represented by a boat. To the south, a woman symbolizes Provence. The Palais des Papes in Avignon and the Arles bullring are also depicted. Sculptor Jean-Marie Baumel created this artwork. It symbolizes Marseille’s entry into modernity.
Today, the Montée de Borel area reflects these changes. It blends rural history with urban development. The name reminds us of the Borel family. They shaped the area’s identity. It is a place where the past and present intertwine.