Baille

Hidden within Marseille’s vibrant tapestry lies Baille, a neighborhood pulsing with life. Baille isn’t just another district. It’s a microcosm of Marseille’s history, a testament to the city’s growth. Its very name comes from the main artery that bisects it: Boulevard Baille. This bustling thoroughfare connects the bustling Timone sector, home to the renowned Timone Hospital and university faculties, to the iconic Place Castellane. Originally, Boulevard Baille was a closed-off street, a cul-de-sac on both ends. This curious layout was the result of property speculators building on land belonging to a certain Mr. Baille. In 1857 and 1861, the city intervened. It acquired land to open the boulevard westward towards Place Castellane and eastward toward the Jarret stream. This transformed a dead end into a vital 1300-meter artery, forever altering Baille’s destiny. Baille is a neighborhood in the 5th arrondissement of Marseille. It represents a significant portion, 63.7 hectares, of the arrondissement’s 2.24 square kilometers. The population of Baille has seen steady growth over the years. From 9,097 inhabitants in 1990, it grew to 11,527 by 2012. This bustling neighborhood with a postal code of 13005, is home to a diverse community. The presence of the Timone Hospital, Marseille’s largest hospital, significantly shapes Baille’s character. This isn’t just a medical facility; it’s a historic landmark. The hospital’s story begins in 1654 with a four-hectare plot of land. Planted with vineyards and olive trees, the land was purchased by Louis David, a businessman in Guyana. Through marriage, the property passed to the Timon family, who in 1765 built a country house known as Timone. The city of Marseille acquired the site in 1869, establishing an extension of the municipal asylum. The Faculty of Medicine later relocated from the Palais du Pharo to La Timone, uniting care, teaching, and research. The 1970s marked a period of significant expansion. The Faculties of Pharmacy and Odontology were established. Major renovations took place between 1970 and 1973, driven by then-mayor Gaston Defferre. More recently, between 2007 and 2012, a large-scale renovation program, creating Timone 2, cemented the hospital’s place as the largest emergency service in France. Baille is more than just its hospital. It’s a neighborhood teeming with life, from students rushing to the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, to the hum of businesses along Boulevard Baille. Baille is a vital thread in the rich tapestry of Marseille.