Whispers of forgotten plans echo along the Chemin des Bessons. This path holds stories of grand estates and abandoned dreams. Today we will discover the hidden tales of this Marseille street.
The Chemin des Bessons is more than just a road. It is a journey through time. The Domaine de la Roserie sits near here. In 1791 this property spanned 7.5 hectares. It featured a pine forest and small buildings. By 1884 J.B. Caillol created the estate for Rose Boyer. She established a horse stable there.
Later the land was purchased by a quarry operator. They planned to build access to the Sainte-Marthe quarries. But in 1971 the state seized the property. This seizure was for a highway project that never materialized. It became known as the “phantom highway”.
The Domaine de la Roserie fell into neglect. But in 1993 Sylvie and Jean-Philippe Rapin established the Écuries de la Roserie equestrian center. They offered horse breeding and boarding services. The site includes two quarries and a riding arena. Boxes, paddocks and a farrier are also present.
The Domaine’s historical elements are protected. These include the bastide with its interior decor. The farm, park, and even the gate are protected too. Rocaille features are also protected.
Not far from here stands the Bastide de Tour Sainte. It represents the eastern part of the old Domaine de Tour Sainte. Amédée Armand, a Marseille industrialist, created this estate in the 1850s.
The Chemin des Bessons borders the Bastide on the even-numbered side. A monumental statue of the Virgin Mary once stood nearby. It gave the domain its name. The statue resided on the other side of the road.
The Bastide features a sober building. It has a porch and a park organized around a pond. The site is partially listed as a historical monument. It is recognized as a major work of landscape composition. It is also a key element of Marseille’s bastide heritage. Today a private company owns the Bastide. It hosts receptions there.
Amédée Armand, the man behind the Bastide de Tour Sainte, had quite the history himself. Alongside his sister Eugénie Armand, he erected a monument in 1854 commemorating the Immaculate Conception. This affirmed that the Virgin Mary was exempt from original sin. The monument took the form of an octagonal tower. It was inaugurated on December 7, 1856.
Looking around Chemin des Bessons, consider the layers of history beneath our feet. From phantom highways to equestrian dreams, it is a place where the past and present intertwine.