Ancienne Bastide Flotte de la Buzine

In 1760, skilled artisans meticulously crafted ornate plasterwork, adorning the dining room of what is now known as the Ancienne Bastide Flotte de la Buzine. This exquisite detail hints at the elegant history of this Marseille landmark. The Ancienne Bastide Flotte de la Buzine stands as a testament to 18th-century Marseillaise architecture. Built in the third quarter of the 1700s by Nicolas de Flotte de la Buzine, the bastide, or country house, was a unique urban oasis. The main house, with its preserved facade and interior layout, offers a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy families who once called it home. In 1811, records describe the property in its full glory. The main house stood proudly. An elegant wing of common rooms extended into a courtyard, adorned with fountains and statues. Pleasure gardens offered a tranquil escape, and three gated passageways provided access to the grounds. While the city grew around it, the Ancienne Bastide Flotte de la Buzine retained its charm. It transitioned from a private residence to an educational institution in 1832. In 1919, it became the Cours Saint-Thomas d’Aquin under the care of Dominican nuns. The school educated generations of students, from kindergarten to high school, until its closure in 2012. Around 500 students filled its classrooms in its final year. The nuns, facing mounting renovation costs, sold the property to real estate developers, marking the end of an era. The Ancienne Bastide Flotte de la Buzine faced an uncertain future. The closure sparked outrage among parents and teachers, leaving them with no immediate solutions for the following school year. The former school was briefly resurrected in the summer of 2015. The urban art exhibition “Aux Tableaux!” breathed new life into the deserted halls, attracting a staggering 43,000 visitors. This event, organized in collaboration with the developers, showcased the bastide’s enduring appeal and potential. Despite its tumultuous recent history, the Ancienne Bastide Flotte de la Buzine remains a protected historical monument. Its legacy lives on. The bastide itself, the facades and roofs of the common wing, and even the remnants of the gardens with their ornate iron gates are all recognized for their historical significance. In 2019, around fifty residential units were developed on the site, marketed as “Bastide Saint-Thomas d’Aquin”. These modern additions stand alongside the historic structure, a reminder of its enduring presence in the heart of Marseille.