Could a symbol of the sea also symbolize love? Here, before you, stands the Ancre en forme de cœur, a heart-shaped anchor. The Ancre en forme de cœur is more than just a striking sculpture. It embodies a powerful message of friendship and connection between two port cities: Marseille and Odessa. This artwork isn’t originally from Marseille. It was a gift, a symbol of solidarity from Odessa, a city in Ukraine twinned with Marseille since 1972. Both cities share a deep-rooted love for the sea, a bond reflected in this unique sculpture. Odessa’s symbol is an anchor with inward-curling hooks that form a heart, much like the Ancre en forme de cœur you see before you. Gennadiy Trukhanov, Odessa’s mayor, gifted similar heart-anchor sculptures to several twin cities, including Istanbul, Regensburg, and Piraeus. The Ancre en forme de cœur, created by Ukrainian artist O.M. Shevchenko, stands over two meters tall, crafted from a copper alloy. Originally located at Prado seaside park, near the Roucas Blanc nautical base, it found a new home in front of Marseille’s City Hall in 2022, further solidifying the bond between the two cities. This relocation served as a poignant display of support for Ukraine during a time of conflict. The sculpture’s heart-shaped anchor serves as a symbol of hope and resilience, a testament to the enduring power of friendship across borders. The Ancre en forme de cœur, a gift from the heart of Odessa, continues to resonate with meaning here in Marseille, reminding us of the shared human connection that binds us together.
Rue Callelongue
A hidden paradise at the end of the world. That’s Callelongue. Callelongue isn’t just a street it’s a journey. A