Curious about the origin of the name Arenc? Most believe it comes from “Arena” meaning sand. It is thought to be a sandy beach at the mouths of the Aygalades and Plombières streams. This origin supposedly dates back to the siege of Marseille by Caesar.
However, Alfred Saurel casts doubt on this etymology of Arenc. He notes that it is not proven that the two rivers flowed onto such a beach. The coastline has changed so much since Julius Caesar’s time. Also, arena does not appear in texts before 1344. Earlier texts use different words. In 1249 Aregnum is cited. 1253 mentions Vallis de Arenqua. Later, in the 14th century Dareng, Arenchum, Areng, Arenh, Azareng, and Arenc are recorded. Only on May 12, 1344, does Als arenas Saint-Lazari cite arenas for the first time.
Arenc is a quarter in Marseille’s 2nd arrondissement. This arrondissement has four quarters. In 2012 Arenc had a population of 1645. Arenc is part of the Euromed project.
Arenc today is largely made up of quays and piers dominated by cranes. These are connected by railways. Beneath the concrete lies one of the oldest parts of ancient Marseille. Euromed is creating a futuristic area of modern towers. The CMA-CGM tower was the first of these. The Marseillaise tower adds to the modern feel.
Nature was once a key part of Arenc. The area was long associated with the beach. Sand and trees are gone. The sea and sky remain.
In the 12th century a chapel dedicated to Saint Martin stood near the cathedral. Popes Anastasius IV and Lucius III directly protected this chapel. It later became a priory.
In 1878, before industrial development, Alfred Saurel wrote about Arenc. He described it as more than a suburb. It was almost a village at the city’s gates.
The Autonomous Port was established in 1966. Its area stretches 70 km along the coast. It runs from the Old Port to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône.
Arenc Euroméditerranée marks a turn toward modernity. The CMA-CGM tower is a notable landmark. It is the tallest office building in Marseille at 147 m high. Architect Zaha Hadid designed it in a deconstructivist style. It houses 2700 CMA CGM employees. This company is the 3rd largest container shipping group worldwide.
Another landmark is Le Silo. It is the last standing grain silo in Arenc. Built in 1926, it may have inspired Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse. Threatened with demolition, it gained industrial heritage status in 2004. In 2011, it was transformed into a performance venue. It can hold 2050 spectators. The acoustics are excellent.
You can also see the statue “It Takes Two to Tango” by artist David Mach. It features two sumo wrestlers lifting a container. The CMA-CGM Foundation gifted it to Marseille. It stands at the foot of the CMA-CGM Tower.
Arenc is also known for the Terrasses du Port. This commercial center has 190 shops and restaurants. It has a 2600 m2 terrace with views of the Joliette port. Until 2001, large commercial centers were banned in Marseille’s city center. The city lifted the ban to recapture trade lost to suburban malls. In 2014, the Terrasses du Port won an award for urban regeneration.
Arenc, a district in full mutation, embodies modernity and effervescence. Formerly an industrial port zone, it has metamorphosed into a hub of innovation and creativity. Arenc is really a unique blend of history and modern development.