Rue du Poste

Navigating the bustling heart of Marseille, we find ourselves on Rue du Poste. Rue du Poste isn’t just a street. It’s a whisper of history, a thread in the rich tapestry of Marseille’s past. This street holds a hidden connection to a grand landmark, the Hôtel des Postes, also known as Poste Colbert. While not directly on Rue du Poste, the story of the Hôtel des Postes intertwines with the very essence of this area. The construction of this magnificent building, between 1889 and 1891, dramatically reshaped the surrounding streets. The Hôtel des Postes stands proudly at 13 rue Saint-Cannat, right at the corner of rue Colbert. Its location speaks volumes about the changing landscape of 19th-century Marseille. Designed by the Aix-en-Provence architect Joseph Huot, the building boasts a post-Haussmannian style, a testament to the era’s architectural trends. Four medallions, sculpted by Stanislas Clastrier, adorn its main façade. They celebrate the invention of the telegraph, honoring physicists like Charles de Coulomb and Alessandro Volta. The very ground on which the Hôtel des Postes stands once held the church of Saint-Martin, a structure dating back to the 11th century. It was also the birthplace of Honoré Daumier, a detail often lost to the passage of time. The demolition of these historical structures made way for rue Colbert and subsequently, the Hôtel des Postes, marking a significant shift in Marseille’s urban development. As early as 1893, the telegraph tower of the post office housed the central hub of Marseille’s first telephone network, a symbol of progress and innovation. While the public postal services closed in 2016, the building underwent a complete renovation, led by Marseille architect Roland Carta. Reopened in late 2021, it now houses over 400 postal workers and serves as the regional headquarters for La Poste Group. It even includes coworking spaces, a modern touch to this historic building. Rue du Poste, in its proximity to this grand structure, bears witness to the echoes of progress, innovation, and the constant evolution of a city.