Bastide Grand-Pré

Did François-Joseph Félix d’Anthoine ever imagine his Bastide Grand-Pré would become a whispered legend? Here we stand before Bastide Grand-Pré, a testament to Marseille’s rich history. It’s more than just stone and mortar. It’s a portal to a time of emperors, queens, and the ambitions of a powerful family. Bastide Grand-Pré stands proudly along the Vallon de Toulouse, formerly known as the Chemin de Cassis. An imposing gate with double doors and pillars adorned with urns marks its entrance. This grand entrance whispers stories of Antoine d’Anthoine’s family, cousins of kings, and beneficiaries of imperial generosity. Antoine d’Anthoine was a man of fortune. In 1786, he married Rose Clary, whose sisters married into royalty. One became Queen of Sweden. The other, Queen of Spain. Their son, François Anthoine de Saint-Joseph, followed a distinguished military career, achieving the rank of General of Division. One of his daughters married Marshal Suchet, another married Charles Saligny, Duke of San-Germano, and later, the Duke Decrès. In 1817, his son, François-Joseph Félix d’Anthoine, a successful merchant, sought a home befitting his status. He found it in Bastide Grand-Pré, a sprawling property previously owned by Frédéric Simon Rouvier. François-Joseph Félix d’Anthoine was a man of influence. He secured permission to hold perpetual mass in his private chapel within Bastide Grand-Pré. This privilege was granted for one of the Rogation Days, the three days preceding Ascension. By 1839, Bastide Grand-Pré changed hands. In the early 20th century, an entrepreneur named Maurice Blanc renovated the bastide, shaping it into the structure we admire today. Victor Turel later sold it to the Société des Eaux de Marseille in the 1950s. Bastide Grand-Pré remains a silent witness to Marseille’s evolving story. It reflects the dreams and ambitions of those who resided within its walls. It stands as a link to a fascinating past, echoing with the whispers of history.