Chemin de la Batterie

Tucked away in Marseille, the Chemin de la Batterie whispers secrets of a time gone by. This isn’t just a path. It’s a journey back to the late 19th century, when the Chemin de la Batterie was home to a military installation. Imagine two 87mm cannons perched high, guarding the coastline. The Chemin de la Batterie wasn’t just about brute force. It also housed a vital searchlight, its beam cutting through the night to illuminate potential threats. Initially housed in a small structure, the searchlight later found its home in a tunnel with two exits. These exits are still visible today, beneath the road, with one entrance accessible from the Chemin de la Batterie itself. This searchlight played a crucial role in nighttime anti-ship firing. In 1954, naval documents referred to the Chemin de la Batterie as a “small structure for two 87mm cannons.” Even more intriguing is the story of the searchlight’s tunnel. Located near the technical rooms, its two entrances were partially blocked in the 1960s during roadworks that elevated the route. You can almost picture the workers, oblivious to the historical significance, altering the landscape of the Chemin de la Batterie forever. Fast forward to July 2022. A local resident sparked controversy by attempting to add windows to their residence, piercing the historic wall of the Chemin de la Batterie. The resulting outcry underscored the importance of preserving this piece of Marseille’s history. The Chemin de la Batterie remains, a silent witness to the passage of time and a reminder of Marseille’s layered past.