Back in November 2025 (Wow! Crazy that November was LAST year) I had gone to Marseille, France and booked a self-guided tour on Viator to the best sites to see in Marseille. Find your own Viator activities here! One of them was Parc Longchamp, housing Palais Longchamp (shown below). I was intrigued, but I had no idea what I was truly walking into until I arrived.

Parc Longchamp is a park located in Marseille, France. It’s public, free and a whopping 8 hectares, or 19.77 acres. It houses stunning stone-architecture, multiple waterfalls, gorgeous gardens and a “funny zoo” in the back. I had went on a Sunday morning, but even in the early hours- there were a few walkers, joggers, parents with kids and dog walker/owners. I assume if I had gone later in the day, it would be more lively, but I was on quite the time restraint, so I wasn’t able to go later. You can find my full Marseille itinerary here.

History:

Let’s first talk about the history of Palais Longchamp and how it came to be. Palais Longchamp is considered to be a historical monument originally built to bring water into the city. In 1835, a cholera epidemic hit the Marseille due to a water shortage. Later, Franz Mayor de Montricher (an architect) was chosen to build a 85km (or 52.82 mile) canal to bring water from the Durance river to Marseille, which is quite the feat! This was a project that dated back to the 16th century.

Clearly, this was no easy task and it took a lengthy 10 years to complete. (Which when you think about American road construction, maybe it’s not that long!) 18 aqueduct bridges were built to bring clean, healthy, drinkable water to the city of Marseille and Henry Espérandieu (who build the Notre-Dame Basilica) staged the the arrival of water on the Longchamp plateau, a striking architectural monument from 1682 to 1869.

And thus, the Palais Longchamp monument came into existence.

Note: Palais Longchamp is the monument shown above, Parc Longchamp is the park in which it is located within.

Once Henry Espérandieu inaugurated the monument in 1869, a few sculptures were specially chosen to decorate the monument, Palais Longchamp with their artwork. Stone lions and tigers are found near the entrance of the park, created by Antoine Louis Bayre and the fountain in the middle was created by Jules Cavelier, representing the arrival of Durance River’s Water.

Once the monument was inaugurated in 1869, several sculptors were selected to decorate the ‘Palais Longchamp’ with their artwork. Lions and tigres’ sculptures from the animal sculptor Antoine Louis Bayre adorn the entrance, while a magnificent and imposing fountain at the center created by Jules Cavelier symbolises the arrival of the Durance river’s water.

The Park:

The architecture, nature and statues are truly magnificent. It is such a serene park, just waiting to be explored. There were quite a few sections, and you can find a map close to the main entrance of the park.

You may have noticed other buildings that line the monument. What are those?

Palais Longchamp’s Museums

Palais Longchamp also houses two museums, the Natural History Museum of Marseille (right) and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (left).

Natural History Museum of Marseille

The Natural History Museum is a FREE museum showing off several collections from the 18th century, given by the city and state. Inside, you may find exhibitions such as aviation collections, bats, the “land of evolution” as well as permanent collections integrating natural and heritage curiosities. You can find out more about current exhibitions on their website linked below or here.

Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts is another FREE museum, founded in 1801 and is considered the oldest museum in Marseille and offers a collection of 17th and 18th century artwork, including paintings, drawings and sculptures. You can find out more about current exhibitions on their website linked below or here.

The Funny Zoo:

From 1855 to 1987, Palais Longchamp hosted a zoo, “The Big Zoo of Marseille.” This was the first provincial zoo in the entirety of France at the time. While the zoo is no longer in business, the enclosures can still be seen in the park, near the back.

Several of the animals from the zoo were preserved after their death and are now exhibited in the Natural History Museum, mentioned above. Initially, when I got to the “Funny Zoo” I thought it was a peculiar, perhaps even tacky display. Many of the enclosures had bright-colored plastic animals inside, and without the context, the understanding of what this was, I had simply thought it was an odd-take of what children may like to see. I am sure there were signs, detailing the history, but as a tourist with limited French comprehension, I thought it was odd. However, having now understood the context and history, it really paints a different picture for me. Something that is commemorating the first provincial zoo in France that is no longer.

Do I recommend Parc Longchamp?

I absolutely do. I thought it was a place that was so rich in history and things to do. I regret not being able to visit the museums, although I will definitely stop by next time I’m in town. I think when I go back, there will be a lot more to appreciate with the Funny Zoo as well, and perhaps I’ll get something from the snack kiosk as well.

Please don’t forget to check hours on the below links, as the museums are not open 24/7. I typically avoid putting hours directly on my blog due to changing hours from businesses/parks/landmarks/museums, etc. and not being able to keep up on each post; getting information like that from the source is always best practice!

Links:

Palais Longchamp: https://www.marseille.fr/culture/patrimoine-culturel/le-palais-longchamp

Natural History Museum of Marseille Website: https://musees.marseille.fr/museum-dhistoire-naturelle-de-marseille-mhnm-0

Musée des Beaux-Arts Website: https://musees.marseille.fr/musee-des-beaux-arts-mba

– Sho

~Founder of Backroad Butterflies ~

Cheers Friends & Travelers! ✈️

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