What does Menpenti mean anyway? Here on Rue Menpenti we find ourselves pondering that very question. This street lies in Marseille’s 10th arrondissement. Menpenti is more than just a street. It is a quartier-village.
Rue Menpenti marks the western boundary of this district. This area has a unique identity within Marseille. It is a place with a population of around 4,130 people in 2012.
The name “Menpenti” has a curious origin story. It comes from a saying inscribed on a country house. The saying was “Marchi toujou e jamai m’en penti”. It means “I always walk and never regret it”. The name of the street and the quartier evolved from this phrase.
Menpenti’s history is rich. In the 13th century monks from Saint-Victor Abbey drained the marshy lands. They built mills on the Huveaune and Jarret rivers. Agriculture flourished here.
The 19th century brought industry. The Prado train station was built. Forges and mechanical workshops sprang up. Menpenti transformed from farmland to industry.
Alfred Saurel wrote about Menpenti in 1878. He noted two main establishments. One was the cavalry barracks. The other was a dog pound. Times certainly have changed here on Rue Menpenti.
Today Menpenti offers green spaces. The Parc du 26ème Centenaire is nearby. It provides a place for recreation. It was inaugurated in 2001 on the site of the old Prado train station.
This park has themed gardens. There is a Provencal garden. Also, there is an Asian garden. You can find an African garden too. An oriental garden completes the set. A belvedere offers views of Marseille. You can see Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde from there.
The Arbre de l’Espérance stands near the park entrance. This Tree of Hope symbolizes humanity. Its leaves represent the people of Marseille. Names of Marseillais are engraved on the ground.
The Caserne Beauvau is on Avenue de Toulon. It was built in 1858 for cavalry. Today the Gendarmerie Nationale occupies it. The hussars are long gone from Rue Menpenti.
Menpenti has seen significant population changes. In 1990 there were 2,727 residents. By 2012 that number rose to 4,130. It is a growing part of Marseille. Menpenti balances its history with modern life. The echoes of its past give Rue Menpenti a special feel.