Mémorial de La Marseillaise

In 1792, a song ignited a revolution. The Mémorial de La Marseillaise stands as a testament to this powerful anthem. It all began in Strasbourg. France had declared war on Austria. The mayor of Strasbourg, Baron Dietrich, commissioned a marching song. Captain Rouget de Lisle, an army engineer, poet, and musician, answered the call. In a single night, he composed “Chant de guerre pour l’Armée du Rhin,” the War Song for the Rhine Army. Little did he know this song would become a symbol of revolution. The Mémorial de La Marseillaise is located right here, in the Belsunce district of Marseille. It’s housed in the former headquarters of the Jacobin Club on Rue Thubaneau. This very building witnessed the first public singing of the song that would become “La Marseillaise.” In June 1792, François Mireur, a young revolutionary, rallied volunteers with this powerful anthem. They marched from Marseille to Paris, carrying the song with them. The Parisians, inspired by the marching song, dubbed it “Hymne des Marseillais.” It eventually became known as “La Marseillaise.” The Mémorial de La Marseillaise, inaugurated in 2011, brings this history to life. The building itself has a rich past. Originally built in 1681 as an indoor ball court, it later became a Turkish bath. Now, it houses a “show tour” that takes visitors on a journey through the French Revolution. The first room displays documents and unofficial versions of “La Marseillaise.” The second room focuses on key figures of the revolution. The final room is the former ball court. Here, a sound and light show recreates the fervor of the early revolution. Ironically, Rouget de Lisle, the composer, was a royalist. He was imprisoned during the revolution, narrowly escaping execution. He died in poverty in 1836, unaware of his song’s lasting legacy. The Mémorial de La Marseillaise stands as a tribute to the power of music and its role in shaping history.