What if these walls could talk? The Bastide Montolieu stands before us. It is more than just a building. It is a fragment of Marseille’s rich past. Let’s step back in time and uncover the story of these bastides.
The bastides represent a unique Provençal lifestyle. They emerged as secondary residences for Marseille’s elite. Imagine wealthy merchants owning townhouses and grand estates like Bastide Montolieu. These estates were havens of leisure and agricultural domains.
Life within the bastides was refined. They offered respite from the bustling city. The families enjoyed a sophisticated living environment. Yet, their primary purpose remained connected to the land. Olive trees and vines thrived here. Bastide Montolieu was part of this tradition.
The architectural blueprint dates back to the late 17th century. These villas stood as testaments to elegance and prosperity. Madame de Sévigné visited Marseille in 1673. She was captivated by the city’s beauty. She described the scattered bastides dotting the landscape. They framed her view of the sea and rugged hills.
Stendhal wrote about the bastides in his “Memoirs of a Tourist”. He admired the white country houses. They covered the area surrounding Marseille. He estimated there were four or five thousand. Indeed, bastides are an integral part of Marseille’s culture. It was essential for the elite to own a bastide. They would retreat to the countryside for relaxation.
In Marseille, a bastide meant a luxurious secondary residence. Bastide Montolieu is set apart from the city’s frenzy. Often, agricultural lands surrounded it. It functioned as both a farm and a vacation spot.
Since the 17th century, Marseillais cherished escaping to the countryside with family. While poorer families had simple cabanons, bourgeois families owned spacious bastides. The bastide is not unique to Marseille. Yet, these homes flourished around Marseille. They shaped the city’s landscape.
The first bastides appeared in the 15th century. Building a bastide meant investing in the countryside. Bastides like Bastide Montolieu occupied undeveloped peasant lands. They also occupied former ecclesiastical properties. These first bastides were primarily agricultural estates.
The bastide was the master’s abode. Agricultural lands and production buildings sprawled around it. Olive trees, vines, and wheat were cultivated. A kitchen garden provided for the family. The owner entrusted management to a farmer. He would often visit to oversee the domain. The farmers lived on the estate year-round.
Some bastide estates spanned over 50 hectares. Others were less than one hectare. The arrival of the Canal de Marseille in 1840 brought potable water. This changed the landscape. Fruit trees were now cultivated.
Over time, the bastide’s role evolved. It gradually became a place of residence. Proximity to the city allowed owners and families to visit regularly. They came with the arrival of warmer weather. Families spent more time here. The bastide became a secondary residence. Marseillais spent vacations here and rested.
It was also a social hub. Marseillais invited friends to enjoy meals in the countryside. Afternoons were for hunting, boules, or croquet. It was a place to escape the city’s heat and fervor. Wealthy owners organized gambling sessions. These were forbidden in the city. They also held theater performances or concerts.
By the 19th century, water arrived in Marseille. This made the bastide landscape more idyllic. Ponds, small lakes, and lush gardens enhanced the domain. These made stays more pleasant. The arrival of potable water led to the construction of grand boulevards. Public transport developed. Connections between the city center and rural areas improved. The bastide became a primary residence during the 19th century.
Bastides became more luxurious. Owners and architects refined them. They featured French gardens and marble-decorated rooms. Bastides testified to the prestige of the families who owned them.
Many bastides have disappeared due to Marseille’s expansion. Marseille grew over time by incorporating villages. These villages became neighborhoods. Bastides and agricultural domains were in these villages. Marseille urbanized from the late 19th century through the 20th century. Large housing complexes encroached on the domains. Many bastides vanished. Sometimes, traces remain: a gate, an old tree, or a stone wall.
While there were 5,000 bastides in Marseille in 1807, only 250 remain today. Most have been stripped of their land. Today, the Bastide Montolieu reminds us of this rich heritage. It prompts us to reflect on a bygone era. It invites us to cherish the fragments that remain.