A bustling hub of activity surrounds us. This is Saint-Jerome in Marseille a vibrant neighborhood with a rich history.
Saint-Jerome is a district in the 13th arrondissement of Marseille. It’s located southwest of the city. It borders La Rose to the east Malpassé to the south and Le Merlan to the west. The area is mostly made up of individual houses. There are also some apartment buildings. One notable example is the Les Lilas-Oliviers housing estate. This area includes a large priority neighborhood that extends to Bon-Secours.
Saint-Jerome has a significant Armenian community. In the first half of the 20th century many worked in small rug-making businesses. From 1923 to 1946 the Société Tapis France Orient had its largest unit here employing between 400 and 450 people. This Armenian community still has its own church. It’s the Armenian Apostolic Church located near the Catholic church of Saint-Jerome.
Around 1960 a science faculty was built in the western part of Saint-Jerome. This was to relieve overcrowding at the Saint-Charles faculty. The Saint-Jerome faculty buildings face the Merlan district. Access is mainly via Avenue Normandie-Niemen. It’s not easily accessible via Traverse Susini which leads to some believing it’s in Le Merlan. A little further north on Traverse Susini is a building belonging to the IUT of Aix-Marseille.
East of Chemin de Château-Gombert on higher ground sits a former convent. This is the cloister of the Sisters of the Visitation. Now owned by the Apprentis d’Auteuil foundation it’s been transformed. It’s now a welcoming space with a restaurant called Les Jardins du Cloître. The convent chapel remains separate from the cloister itself. The cloister has been recently renovated and revitalized as part of a project called Le Cloître Saint-Jérôme. This project cost 3 million euros and brought together social entrepreneurs and businesses. This includes a social innovation hub a professional training space and a restaurant. The project was co-funded by Apprentis d’Auteuil and the European Union.
So here we stand before a place of rich history. Saint-Jerome’s story blends the lives of its residents. Its rich past is intertwined with its vibrant present. From rug makers to scientists Saint-Jerome is a testament to the dynamism of Marseille.