The Hotel Cabre

THE CABRE HOTEL OR THE OLDEST HOUSE IN MARSEILLE

The oldest house in Marseille? It is estimated to have been built around 1535 and one thing is for sure, it is the oldest house in the city still standing. You can observe this witness of Marseille's history in the 2nd arrondissement, at the corner of Grande Rue and rue de la Bonneterie.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE OF THE ALDERMAN OF CABRE

Built for Consul Louis de Cabre, a Marseille merchant and alderman, it naturally bears his name. The building stands out radically from the surrounding buildings. And for good reason! Its blend of Gothic style and Renaissance art immediately strikes the pedestrian. The mention "1535" refers to the year De Cabre was appointed consul. His effigy as well as that of his wife are represented on the front of the house with a statue of Saint Jacques, in homage to Louis's father, Jacques de Cabre.

Originally, it featured on its facade coat of arms with fleurs-de-lis, a royal symbol. However, during the French Revolution, opponents of the monarchy destroyed them.

Another peculiarity of the Hôtel Cabre, which certainly does not lack any, is that it curiously escaped the events of 1943. During the occupation, the Germans set out to demolish the "criminal quarter" of Le Panier, which they saw as a "sewer" of uncontrollable sedition. The operation on January 3, 1943, aimed to reshape this district of Marseille whose alleys were considered dangerous. In fact, the population was rounded up and evacuated to concentration camps, and the district was then meticulously searched before the houses were dynamited. The Old Port is completely sealed off, dozens of checks are carried out, 2000 Marseillais deported and 1500 buildings destroyed. Hitler's orders were strict; the Old Port had to be "razed." Fortunately, the demolished area would be smaller than that initially set by the Germans. Demolition began on February 1 and continued until the 19th of the month, sparing only a few buildings among the many that had historical value. The Hôtel Cabre and the Maison Diamantée are among these rare buildings still standing.

An Impressive Displacement

This monument of Marseille was once again threatened in 1954, as part of a redevelopment plan for the Hôtel de Ville district. The project involved the demolition of the Hôtel de Cabre, which unfortunately happened to be right in the middle of the planned route for the Grande Rue, which needed to be widened. Two other options were considered to preserve the house. One involved dismantling it stone by stone and reassembling it in a more suitable location. But it was the second solution that was chosen, namely its simple relocation over a distance of 15 meters, with the added bonus of a small 90° rotation. Rehabilitation work was also carried out at the same time to restore the facade severely damaged by the dynamiting in 1943. Finally, the 670-ton monument was moved on a chassis using a rail system and a hydraulic pump powered by a mere 4 HP engine!

Did you know that despite the building's relocation, you can still read the inscription "Rue Bonneterie" on the facade now located on Grande Rue!

Today, you can still admire this vestige of Marseille's history as you stroll through the Vieux Port district.

For a different way to visit Marseille, have you considered renting a Segway or a bike? The Petit Train de Marseille also offers you the chance to discover the city in a different way, much to the delight of children!

Also, consider going to the ticket office to buy your tickets for the monuments to avoid long queues.