Hidden among the narrow streets of Saint-Julien lies Bastides de Saint-Julien 2. This unassuming name hides a rich history. This area is part of Marseille’s 12th arrondissement a residential district perched high above the city.
Bastides de Saint-Julien 2 is more than just a street name. It represents a piece of Marseille’s past. Imagine the bustling activity of Saint-Julien during the 12th century. A religious community established itself here. They were recorded in the Saint Victor registers as Sancti Juliani. This likely gave the area its name.
Centuries before this the area held strategic importance. Julius Caesar himself established a camp here during the siege of Marseille in 49 BC. The village then grew around this site. It was fortified becoming Chateau Julien. Sadly little remains of the medieval castle today. Its ruins were cleared in the late 19th century to create larger streets and the current Place Eugene Bertrand.
For centuries Saint-Julien remained largely rural. It was home to monks and soldiers. The area’s development accelerated between 1850 and 1870. This was fueled by Marseille’s industrial and commercial growth. The city boomed gaining over 220000 new residents in just twenty years. Many were immigrants especially from Italy.
The arrival of horse-drawn trams in 1875 further boosted development extending as far as Trois-Lucs. Large estates were divided creating new housing opportunities. New neighborhoods like Les Caillols Les Olives and Les Martegaux emerged. These were on the periphery of the old village but still part of the Saint-Julien parish.
During World War II Saint-Julien was the site of one of the first battles in Marseille. It was a pivotal moment in the city’s liberation from German forces. The area was then home to agricultural workers and artisans. Even into the 1970s cows could be found grazing there.
The Bastides de Saint-Julien 2 area you see today is a testament to this long and layered history. A mix of old and new architecture reflects its evolution from a strategic Roman encampment to a thriving residential district. It’s a living history a story written in stone and in the very fabric of its streets.