Consider this an invitation to step back in time at the Jardin des Vestiges. This garden holds secrets of Marseille’s ancient past. We are standing on what was once the heart of Massalia a Greek city.
The Jardin des Vestiges is an archaeological site. It reveals the remains of Marseille’s ancient port. Imagine this area bustling with activity thousands of years ago. The site was discovered during construction in 1967. It officially opened as a garden in 1983. It became a classified French historical monument.
Here in the Jardin des Vestiges you can see parts of the ancient port and city walls. Three square towers stand as silent witnesses. A gateway dates back to the second or third century BC. These ruins offer a glimpse into Marseille’s Greek and Roman past.
Excavations unearthed a treasure trove of history. The work was carried out by the Antiquités historiques and the CNRS. The remaining area was sacrificed to enable the construction of the Centre Bourse. The excavations lasted ten years. Additional works were carried out later.
The Jardin des Vestiges marks a meeting point. It connects the ancient city north of the Old Port. It also links to a suburban and port area outside the ramparts. The garden highlights the vestiges. These are the results of post-war urban excavations in France.
In Greek times the old port extended further east. It formed the horn of the port. The site of the Augustinian church was once part of the port. This area now planted with grass once faced the city’s ramparts.
Visible here are quays that date back to Roman times. They are preserved over 180 meters. You can still see stairs used for unloading goods. This port gradually silted up and became a dumping area.
A 23-meter-long boat was abandoned here around the 3rd century BC. It sank into the mud. This ensured its preservation. The shipwreck was extracted and preserved. It is now on display at the Marseille History Museum.
The oldest discoveries were made in the northwestern part of the Jardin des Vestiges. This included a portion of the north–south road from the 6th century BC. A first rampart was also discovered. It was made of white limestone. It dates from the end of the 5th century BC.
In the second half of the 2nd century BC the rampart was rebuilt. This time it used pink limestone from Cape Couronne. This rampart defended the city during Julius Caesar’s siege in 49 BC. It remained in use until the Middle Ages.
The Wall of Crinas is also here. Some archaeologists thought it was built in the 1st century. It actually dates from the 2nd century BC. The porte d’Italie was guarded by two towers. The north tower is attached to the Wall of Crinas. The south tower is called the leaning tower. A curtain wall connected the leaning tower to a rectangular tower.
To the east of the Jardin des Vestiges is a large square basin. It dates to the beginning of the 2nd century. This basin supplied water to the boats. Two funerary enclosures were discovered north of the voie d’Italie. They were terraces intended to be seen from the road. The enclosures were built at the beginning of the 4th century BC.
Today the Jardin des Vestiges offers a peaceful break. It is a place to reflect on Marseille’s rich history. It is a testament to the city’s enduring legacy. Remember this garden next time you are at the History Museum.