La Belle de Mai

Located in the 3rd arrondissement of Marseille, the Belle de Mai district was built by successive waves of immigration: Italians, Poles, Spaniards, Armenians, North Africans, and Comorians.

The history of the Belle de Mai district

The origin of the name "Belle de Mai" has given rise to numerous theories. One very popular theory suggests that a young girl was designated as the "Belle de Mai." Placed on a platform during the rose festival in spring, she charmed with her captivating beauty. However, there is no evidence of this historical tradition. Another explanation, dating back to the 18th century, speaks of a particular vine in the Plombières region called "Bèla de Mai" (which means "More Beautiful" in Provencal) because it was late, producing grapes until December. A path named Belle de Mai connected this vine from Plombières to the Porte d'Aix, passing through the Saint-Charles cemetery and the current rue Belle de Mai.

Before becoming a working-class neighborhood in the early 19th century, Belle de Mai was a popular place for Marseille's notables. Indeed, the reputation of the area in summer, for its orchards, taverns, and popular balls, attracted many in the past.

The neighborhood became attractive to dockers who came to settle there following the construction of the Joliette port. A match factory, a sugar refinery, and a freight station also settled there. During the Occupation, Belle de Mai became one of the landmarks of communist resistance.

The Tobacco Factory took the place of the sugar refinery. The Tobacco Factory, inaugurated in 1868, was for a long time the economic heart of the neighborhood, employing much of the population, including Italian immigrants. After the closure of the factory in the 1990s, the site was transformed into "Friche la Belle de Mai," a space dedicated to culture and the arts, revitalizing the neighborhood while preserving its industrial heritage.

The friche de la Belle de Mai

Opened in 1992 in the former Tobacco Factory of Marseille, the Friche Belle de Mai is a bustling hub of cultural activities. It houses performance and exhibition halls and around sixty artistic and cultural structures of all kinds, from theater to music to contemporary art and radio. 4,000 m2 are dedicated to contemporary art at the Panorama Tower. Since 2009, the Friche has also hosted a skatepark. The Cultural Center brings together multiple associations and hosts one of the few French business incubators specializing in Culture. The old Tobacco Factory buildings also house a Media Center which includes corporate offices and a cinema and television studio. It is also the filming location for the TV series Plus belle la vie!

Shops and market in Belle de Mai

At the heart of the neighborhood, Place Cadenat hosts the main shops and a regular market (from 9 am to 1 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays). The "old-fashioned" popular market is small, but the prices are unbeatable. Crafts and specialties may not be prevalent, but you can find authentic goods there.