“An odeur de scandale” or “an odor of scandal” once hung heavy in the air. This was at the Nécropole des Vaudrans. Let’s step back and explore this sprawling landscape. We will uncover its history and the controversies that once plagued it.
The Nécropole des Vaudrans is not just a cemetery. It is a carefully designed landscape. It is a space created to meet the evolving needs of Marseille’s diverse population. In the 1970s, Marseille faced a shortage of land for burials. The city decided to create a new type of cemetery. It would be a 21st-century necropolis detached from traditional village ties.
The prefecture authorized the project in 1976. The city had acquired the land in the 12th arrondissement in 1971. The Nécropole des Vaudrans was built in three phases. The first phase opened on February 7, 1983. It covered 12 hectares. It was designed as a natural park. The burial plots followed the contours of the hillside. This created a collection of 17 smaller cemeteries integrated into the landscape. The design broke away from the traditional square layout of urban cemeteries.
By 1987, a second phase was underway. It continued the landscape-focused design. It also incorporated a community aspect. In 1994, nearly all the burial spaces were taken. The city decided to expand the cemetery again. The third phase opened on January 31, 2008. This added 20.5 hectares. The total area of the Nécropole des Vaudrans became 40.5 hectares. Only 10 hectares were developed. The rest remained naturally wooded.
The aim was to minimize the visual impact. The designers created 28 burial modules. They were designed as hamlets with shaded squares. The idea was to create a human-scale environment. The micro-villages are surrounded by vegetation. They offer views of the landscape. Some even overlook the sea or the statue of the Virgin of la Garde. This provides a vista from the Huveaune valley to the harbor of Marseille.
The Nécropole des Vaudrans is on a steep hillside. The design respects the natural site. The structures blend into the rocky terrain. No tomb rises above the ridgeline. Constructed areas contrast with untouched vegetation. Rosemary, arbutus, and cicadas evoke the spirit of Provence. The third phase was intended to meet the needs of Marseille’s population for the next decade.
All the modules share a similar layout. The vaults can hold six bodies. There are three types of vaults. They are traditional buried vaults with gravel pits. There are also semi-buried corbel-type vaults and above-ground vaults. In addition to these, there are also superimposed three-unit enfeu tombs.
Marseille is a port city with a large immigrant population. The Nécropole des Vaudrans reflects this diversity. The third phase includes dedicated areas for Muslim and Jewish burials. Square 27 is for Jewish burials. It is enclosed by bamboo-themed walls. It has 1,332 spaces in 222 vaults. Each vault can hold six burials. They are built on terraces planted with olive trees. Squares 40 and 41 are for Muslim burials. They have 622 spaces in 311 concessions. Each concession has two spaces. These squares are on flat ground. They are surrounded by natural vegetation. They also feature planted olive trees and prayer areas.
However, the Nécropole des Vaudrans has also faced controversy. In 2025, a scandal erupted. A tomb was leaking fluids. The stench of decomposition filled the air. It affected nearby tombs. A woman named Martine Judici discovered the problem after her brother’s burial. The leak was from his tomb. She described the smell as strong and acrid. It lingered in the nose and throat.
The municipal funeral services tried to fix the problem. They added cement and cleaned the area. But the smell persisted. An employee suggested she stop visiting her brother’s grave. Another employee said the gravediggers might not have used enough organic soil. This soil usually absorbs the body’s decomposition. The only solution was to exhume the body and rebury it properly. But this was not allowed for five years. The city assured her they were taking the problem seriously. They promised to revisit the issue if needed.
Despite this controversy, the Nécropole des Vaudrans stands as a testament to Marseille’s commitment. It serves the needs of its diverse communities. It provides a final resting place that is both respectful and beautiful. It continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of the city. It is a place of memory. It is also a reflection of Marseille’s unique cultural identity.