Once upon a time a king lived here. The Chapelle du Roy d’Espagne stands as a testament to history. It whispers tales of royalty and resilience.
This chapel is near the school built where the Chateau du Roy d’Espagne once stood. Originally this was called Campagne Bastide. The park gets its name from the King of Spain himself. Charles IV was Napoleon’s prisoner until Napoleon’s defeat in 1814.
By the Treaty of Bayonne Napoleon gave Charles IV castles. These were the Chateau de Compiègne and Chambord. But the ex-King of Spain only stayed at Compiègne for three months in the summer of 1808. His daughter the Queen of Etruria stayed until 1809.
The climate of Northern France did not suit Charles IV. He asked Napoleon for a more southern residence. Napoleon agreed and Charles IV spent three years in Marseille. He lived in the now-gone chateau.
Fearing Spanish nationalists Napoleon moved the ex-King of Spain to Rome in 1812. He was housed in the Palazzo Barberini.
In 1814 Ferdinand VII was put back on the Spanish throne by Napoleon. But he kept his father in exile fearing conflict. Charles and Maria Luisa both died in exile in Rome in 1819. Today the farm is mainly for school visits. But it is open to the public.
The Roy d’Espagne area got its name from Charles IV. He was dethroned in 1808 and exiled to France by Napoleon. The emperor let the dethroned monarch use the chateaus of Chambord and Compiègne. But the Spaniard did not like the northern climates. So Napoleon assigned him to live in a bastide. It was built by a Marseille merchant.
Legend says this gentle king moved around the estate. He used a carriage pulled by white mules. He hunted quail and played the violin. On Sundays he invited villagers from Mazargues to party and dance.
Stendhal wrote about the “campagne du roi d’Espagne” in 1838. The Germans reportedly dynamited the chateau. This happened when American troops arrived in August 1944. The property’s wall still stands between the Aigle mountain and the Jarre valley. A pyramid served as the family mausoleum.
Today the Chapelle du Roy d’Espagne welcomes all. Since 1996 a Christian community has gathered here. They meet every Sunday at the chapel in Marseille’s 8th arrondissement.
Their community life focuses on Sunday morning worship. They also meet in members’ homes. They share their lives discuss problems and study the Bible. The church wants to help people discover live and share God’s love.
The Chapelle du Roy d’Espagne reminds us of a king in exile. It shows us community and faith. Its stones echo with stories of the past. It offers peace today.