Palais Longchamp is a 19th-century palace complex in Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. It stands at Rue Édouard Stéphan in the 4th arrondissement, and it is one of the city's best-known landmarks.
What to see
The palace is built around a grand fountain and a colonnade, and its ornate architecture makes it a favourite subject for photographs. The surrounding gardens give the site a quieter, more open feel, so you can walk slowly between the buildings and the water.
- The grand fountain and colonnade at the centre of the complex
- The ornate architecture of the palace itself
- The gardens that surround the buildings
- The Natural History Museum, housed within the palace
- The Fine Arts Museum, also housed here
Is it worth a visit?
If you enjoy architecture, gardens or museums, Palais Longchamp makes a rewarding half-day or an hour's stop. Because the two museums sit in the same complex, you can combine a look at the building with a visit to the collections. It suits a relaxed pace, with time to stroll the grounds as well as go indoors.
Its setting in the north of the city means it is easy to pair with other places in Marseille, and it gives a good sense of the grand civic style that shaped the city in the 1800s.