Hidden within Marseille’s vibrant tapestry lies Place Henri Verneuil. A space brimming with stories, it stands as a testament to a life intertwined with cinema and personal heritage. Place Henri Verneuil was inaugurated in 2013. The ceremony included the President of Euroméditerranée, Marseille’s mayor, local officials, and even Verneuil’s children. The square itself is a dynamic two-level design. A mineral belvedere sits at the boulevard de Dunkerque level. A plaza connects with the boulevard du Littoral below. This difference in elevation cleverly accommodates the Joliette Theatre, formerly the Minoterie Theatre, along with commercial spaces and a grand staircase.
Place Henri Verneuil is more than just a square. It is a bridge between past and present. Its southern facade is dominated by the Coeur Méditerranée and a 3-star hotel. The northern facade faces the Euromed Center. This entire area has replaced old, disused railway lines that once terminated at Place de la Joliette. The Passage Verneuil offers a delightful, vegetated walkway. It connects the square to the Pathé Joliette cinema, dotted with restaurants, business buildings, wooden deckchairs, and captivating artwork by Astro.
This location holds deep significance for the man whose name it bears. Henri Verneuil, born Achod Malakian, arrived at Marseille’s Joliette docks in December 1924. A four-year-old refugee who spoke no French, he arrived with his family, survivors of the Armenian genocide. Years later, in 1985, he returned to the streets of his youth, Rue Saint Jacques. He shared memories woven into his autobiographical novel, *Mayrig*. His journey from a young Armenian boy to a celebrated filmmaker is a testament to Marseille’s rich, multicultural history. Place Henri Verneuil stands as a proud symbol of his legacy. It’s a place where the echoes of his life and the vibrant energy of Marseille converge.