Down in the Saint-Henri district lies Rue de Séon. Today we explore its story. Saint-Henri was once called Séon Saint-Henri. This street shares a name with that history.
Saint-Henri is in Marseille’s 16th arrondissement. It sits northwest of the city. The area borders the sea on the Séon basin’s coastal plain. It is part of Marseille’s northern quarters.
Once twinned with Saint-André as Séon, Saint-Henri became its own parish in 1745. It began as a hamlet for farmers. Later it became a village known for tile production. Today Saint-Henri is a residential zone in Marseille’s northern districts.
Saint-Henri got its name from the old Saint-Henri chapel. This happened when it became a parish in 1745.
Saint-Henri is located along the coast in Marseille’s northern suburbs. To the northwest, it borders L’Estaque. To the south, it borders Saint-André.
Saint Henri is part of the Bassin de Séon. This coastal plain includes Saint André and L’Estaque. It lies between hills to the northeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the southwest. This basin contains a lot of clay. Extraction created an uneven landscape. These “clay pits” resemble old clay quarries.
The Route Départementale 568 crosses Saint-Henri. It leads north to L’Estaque and Le Rove. Southward, it goes to the A55 motorway and Marseille’s city center.
The Paris to Marseille railway passes through Saint-Henri. However, the Séon-Saint-Henri station is closed.
In the 16th century, Saint-Henri was part of the Domaine de Séon. This included Saint-André. The Saumati lords owned it. They leased land to farmers. Saint-Henri became independent from Saint-André in 1745. This happened under Monseigneur de Belsunce. After the French Revolution, Saint-Henri became part of Marseille.
At that time, white wine production was Saint Henri’s main activity. Vines thrived in the dry soil and sunny hills. Phylloxera devastated the vineyards in 1863. The vineyards were never rebuilt. The village shifted from agriculture to industry.
Saint Henri sits on clay soil. Tile making grew in the 19th century. This coincided with the Industrial Revolution. In 1805, 21 tile factories employed 45 workers. By 1860, there were 150 tile factories. They employed 800 workers.
Saint Henri’s landscape changed. Clay pits multiplied. Tall chimneys rose above roofs. Workers’ housing created shantytowns. These were near factories.
Industrial expansion brought immigrants to Saint-Henri. Italians, Spaniards, and Armenians arrived in the early 20th century. Later, Algerians came to work in factories. Saint-Henri’s population grew from 714 to 10950 between 1820 and 1930. Most worked in tile factories.
Saint-André, once known as Séon Saint-André, is also in Marseille’s 16th arrondissement. It forms part of the northern quarters.
Saint-André tried to create an independent commune with L’Estaque and Saint-Henri. This was under the name of Séon. The effort failed.
Saint-André’s soil is part of the Bassin de Séon’s coastal plain.
Saint-André’s history dates back to the 12th century. Legend says a piece of Saint Andrew’s cross was found at Saint-Victor Abbey. Monks built a chapel there.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Saint-André was mainly farms. The 19th century brought industrial change. Construction of the Côte Bleue railway revealed clay deposits. Many tile factories were established. Martin Frères closed in 1979. Their tiles were famous worldwide. Some roofs in Japan still use them. The area opened to immigration. Rue de Varsovie and Rue de Kabylie reflect this. Today Saint-André is redeveloping.
Rue de Séon whispers tales of farmers and factory workers. It connects us to a time when Saint-Henri and Saint-André were transforming. These villages became industrial hubs. Now you know a piece of this street’s past.