What does Menpenti even mean? That is the question on everyone’s lips as we stand at the gateway to this intriguing Marseille neighborhood. Menpenti. The name itself sparks curiosity.
Menpenti is a quartier of Marseille’s 10th arrondissement. It is a blend of history and modern life. About 4,130 people called Menpenti home in 2012.
The origin of the name Menpenti is shrouded in local lore. Some say it comes from a phrase inscribed on a local building. The phrase was in the Provençal language. It read Marchi toujou, e jamai m’en penti. This translates to I always walk forward and never regret it.
Other theories connect it to the Greek word Nepenthe. This was a potion to banish sorrow. A villa in the area may have been named after it. Locals might then have started calling the area Nepenti before it morphed into Menpenti. Another tale speaks of a nobleman exiled to the area. He was regretting his words about King René’s art. He kept repeating M’en repenti. Over time this became Menpenti.
In the 13th century monks from the Abbey of Saint-Victor drained the marshy lands. They placed mills on the Huveaune and Jarret rivers. Agriculture flourished. By the 19th century industry arrived with the Prado train station. Forges and mechanical workshops sprung up. Menpenti became an important industrial suburb of Marseille.
Today Menpenti is also known for the Parc du 26e Centenaire. The park includes the Place de l’Arbre de l’Espérance. The park was inaugurated in 2001. It was built on the site of the old Prado train station. Some of the old rails remain. The park has different themed gardens. There is a Provençal garden. An Asian garden is also there. You can also see an African and an Oriental garden.
Look up to spot the belvedere. It offers amazing views of Marseille. You can see Notre-Dame de-la-Garde from here. The Caserne Beauvau is another notable building. It was built in 1858 for the cavalry. Now the Gendarmerie Nationale occupies it.
Menpenti is a place of constant evolution. It has shifted from agriculture to industry and now to a residential area. Menpenti embraces the future with hope while cherishing its past mysteries. So as we continue our journey through Marseille let the name Menpenti remind us to always move forward without regret.