Memorial of the Marseillaise
It was in the heart of Marseille that the Marseillaise was first sung in 1792. Now the French national anthem, the headquarters of the Club des Jacobins has become a memorial.
Origin of the Marseillaise
In 1792, the French Revolution was underway and the war against the monarchy was raging. One day, the mayor of Strasbourg, Baron Dietrich, suggested that the revolutionaries lacked a designated song, an anthem to accompany and motivate the troops on their journey. Upon hearing this, Captain Rouget de Lisle, who also happened to be a musician and poet, wrote overnight what was initially called "the war song for the Army of the Rhine." A few months later, Marseille volunteers sang it throughout their journey to the capital, which lasted a month.
Once in Paris, Parisians called this song the "Hymn of the Marseillais" before it became "La Marseillaise" as we know it today.
It wasn't until July 14, 1795, that it was officially adopted as the national anthem.
Discovering the mémorial de la Marseillaise
The famous national anthem had its roots in Marseille, but there was nothing to evoke it in the monuments of the city. This has now been remedied with the rehabilitation of this building, located on Rue Thubaneau, in the Belsunce district, which was the headquarters of the Club des Jacobins. It was here, for the first time, that this anthem, later known as "La Marseillaise," was sung in 1792.
Inaugurated in March 2011, this memorial will take you on a journey through the French Revolution and the birth of the Marseillaise.
This completely renovated monument in Marseille includes a "spectacle tour" retracing the history of these Marseille volunteers through three rooms. The first room, dedicated to the Marseillaises, provides access to documents from the time as well as unofficial versions of the famous national anthem. The Complaints room will introduce you to the important figures of that time who played more or less significant roles in the history of the Marseillaise. Finally, the last room is the Tennis Court Oath room, which presents the French Revolution with a sound and light setup.
To purchase tickets, you will need to visit the ticket office of the Museum of Marseille History, which has been connected to the Marseillaise Memorial since 2013, located just a few steps away.
For a different way to explore Marseille, we recommend bike rental or the Little Train of Marseille. And if you have a good sense of balance, why not try renting a Segway?