A crumbling facade whispers tales of bygone grandeur. This is the Chemin de la Guillermy. We stand before the Bastide de la Guillermy a 17th-century bastide one of Marseille’s oldest buildings.
Its name a legacy of the Guillermy family who acquired the land in 1689 from the poet Jean de La Ceppède. They built their family home here. Imagine the bustling activity the sounds of construction. This wasn’t just any house. It hosted distinguished guests throughout the centuries.
Paul Barras exiled by Napoleon found refuge within its walls. The Prefect Antoine Claire Thibaudeau sought shelter here before his own exile in 1813. Even Princess Françoise of Orléans graced the bastide with her presence in 1890. The building passed through various hands. It belonged to the Salavy family and then to Baron Fernand de Fonscolombe born within its walls in 1841.
The 20th century brought upheaval. In 1941 the bastide served as a police station. The construction of the A7 autoroute loomed. The bastide narrowly escaped demolition. The French state acquired it in 1957. The gendarmerie occupied it until 2004. Afterward neglect and vandalism took their toll. The building fell into disrepair.
A failed proposal to house Romani families met with strong local opposition. In 2011 the bastide was put up for sale. It was eventually purchased and restoration work is underway.
The Chemin de la Guillermy itself bears witness to this history. Today restoration efforts are striving to restore this ancient bastide to its former glory. It stands as a testament to Marseille’s rich past a symbol of resilience. The story of the Bastide de la Guillermy is a story of endurance. It’s a reminder of the layers of history woven into the very fabric of Marseille.