Hidden amongst the sprawling urban landscape of Marseille, the Tourelle vigie de Rouvièvre stands as a silent sentinel, a vestige of a bygone era. It whispers tales of a time when grand estates dotted the hillsides, when wealthy landowners surveyed their domains and watched for approaching ships from lofty vantage points. The Tourelle vigie de Rouvièvre, now a ruin, offers a glimpse into this forgotten world. It may have served as a watchtower, a place to scan the horizon for potential dangers, like fires, or perhaps even a hunting blind. The Tourelle vigie de Rouvièvre sits on the very grounds where a true château once stood, the foundation upon which the Cité de La Rouvière would rise in the 1960s. Before the modern city bloomed, Eugène Bonnasse acquired the property of La Rouvière on June 30, 1886. Years later, in 1911, Joseph Bonnasse commissioned landscape architect Édouard André to revitalize the park. The transformation included terracing, planting conifers, and enhancing the French-style lawns, all entrusted to Paris-based landscaper E. Berthier. The construction and renovation of large basins were overseen by Parisian cement maker Victor Tatoux’s company. The sculpted decorations of the main basin, a cast iron representation of “Louis XIV,” were created by Charles Delanglade and delivered by the Val d’Osne Art Foundry. Time has taken its toll on the Tourelle vigie de Rouvièvre. Its roof is gone. Yet, the structure itself remains in relatively good condition, a blend of stone, brick, and concrete reinforced with metal. It seems to have undergone a relatively recent restoration, a testament to its enduring presence. A word of caution: accessing the Tourelle vigie de Rouvièvre can be dangerous. Its location at the edge of a cliff demands respect and careful consideration.
Rue Callelongue
A hidden paradise at the end of the world. That’s Callelongue. Callelongue isn’t just a street it’s a journey. A