Lost canals. That is what often happens to old structures. Rue de la Douane whispers tales of a hidden waterway. Imagine it. Not a street but a canal. Let’s uncover the story of the Rue de la Douane in Marseille.
Back in the 17th century Louis XIV decided to build an arsenal in Marseille. It was between Quai des Belges and Rue du Fort Notre-Dame. To get materials into the arsenal a canal was built. This canal was called the Darse. It had two branches. One branch was near Place aux Huiles. The other branch was near Cours Honoré d’Estienne d’Orves.
The arsenal closed in 1748. The city took back the land. By the end of the 18th century the buildings were torn down. But the canal stayed. It was made longer with a third branch near Cours Jean Ballard. Now it looked like a horseshoe. This is when it became the Canal de la Douane. Big warehouses were built. Flat-bottomed boats carried goods along the canal. Wooden drawbridges let people cross.
The Canal de la Douane gave the area a charming feel. But the city thought the water was dirty. It might spread diseases. So in 1927 the canal was filled in. Rubble from demolishing the Bourse area was used. The new space became a public square. It was used as a market.
In 1965 a parking garage was built on Cours d’Estienne d’Orves. It was ugly. It stayed until 1987. Then it was moved to the La Rose metro terminus. In 1988 the city renovated the area. The Cours became a pedestrian zone. Cafes and restaurants opened.
People like Jean Ballard missed the old canal. He wrote about its disappearance in 1928. He saw it as a loss. It was replaced by cars and trams. Others thought the canal was unhealthy. Edmond Jaloux remembered it fondly. He saw Venice and Amsterdam in Marseille. Even with its dirty water the Canal de la Douane inspired writers and artists.
Historians say the canal started to decline around 1840. It became clogged with silt. The Vieux-Port wasn’t much better. An engineer suggested cleaning the water with pumps in 1842. But nothing was done. By the early 20th century the press wanted it gone. They wanted a wide avenue for traffic.
The question was debated. Should the Canal de la Douane be filled in? Some officials wanted to preserve the past. Others prioritized hygiene. World War I came. The canal became a stagnant pool. By 1927 most agreed it was time for it to go.
Today the Rue de la Douane is not a canal. It is a street with a hidden past. Imagine the boats and bridges. Picture the warehouses and bustling trade. The next time you stroll along the Rue de la Douane remember its watery past.