Rue Saint-Savournin

Did you know a street can hold centuries of whispers? Rue Saint-Savournin certainly does. This street isn’t just a path; it’s a thread woven into the fabric of Marseille’s history. The very name, Rue Saint-Savournin, echoes a time before 1539 when it was known as “Saint Saturnin.” Legend says this area once housed a temple dedicated to Saturn, the god of time. Imagine, right here, where we stand, ancient Romans might have offered prayers to the deity. Rue Saint-Savournin has witnessed Marseille’s evolution. It saw the rise and fall of a chateau, built between 1045 and 1138, only to be destroyed during the religious wars between 1573 and 1593. A church once graced this street too, near where the post office now stands. Within its foundations, a Roman column was discovered, a tangible link to the street’s ancient past. The column now resides at Château Borély, a silent storyteller of Rue Saint-Savournin’s long history. Today, at number 5 Rue Saint-Savournin, stands a building erected in 1938. It’s a blend of apartments, shops, and businesses, a microcosm of Marseille’s vibrant life. The building rises six stories high, reaching approximately 23 meters into the sky, a modern sentinel on this historic street. And further down the street, at number 50, stands a former convent. Built in 1784, it was later acquired by the Sisters of Notre-Dame de la Compassion in 1855. Within its walls, they built a neo-Gothic chapel, complete with a majestic 1866 organ, a classified historical treasure. Today, the city has reclaimed the convent, transforming it into student housing, ensuring that Rue Saint-Savournin continues to nurture and inspire future generations, just as it has for centuries.