Parc Borely is located in Marseille, France and was listed as a main attraction to see when you visit. In fact, it is classified by the Ministry of Culture as one of the Remarkable Gardens of France.
The park itself is divided into five different sections; The French Part, English Part, Rose Garden, Racecourse and Botanical (Asian Garden). In the garden, also sits Château Borély, a museum that was reopened in 2013. This museum houses both the fashion department of over 10,000 pieces and the Department of Earthenware and Decorative Arts of contemporary pieces including ceramics, glasses, etc. You can find out more about the museum here.
The Park
The Museum
Recommended?
The Park
I arrived to the park in the early morning and despite the sun barely hitting the sky, there were many joggers and people enjoying the park’s quiet. There were some doing yoga and tai chi, a few parents with their kids in strollers and many going for their morning run.
In the 17th century, a wealth Marseille shipowner and merchant, Louis Borély wanted to building something in the Bonneveine district. Like many at the time, he wanted something that was extraordinary- something that got people to turn their heads and really be in awe of what they saw. Originally, this piece of land was made up of meadows, gardens, trees and buildings. After returning from Egypt in 1767, he was finally able to carry out such a project of splendor and asked Provençal architect Esprit Brun to make his dream into reality. His son inherited the garden in 1770, requesting the Embry gardener to create a classic garden.
By the 19th century, Marseille became the owner of the garden and requested the famous landscape architect Alphand to create a public park. He worked to remodel the the Vincennes and Boulogne woods and it was only the beginning of what you see today.
In the present, the park covers 42 acres and is famous for its diverse number of plants, of over 3,500 plant species. Gardens continue to be added with the most recent one being the Chinese Garden in 2004.
The Museum
Unfortunately, I only had half of a day to explore everything I could or wanted in Marseille, and because of that I wa
s not only on a time crunch, but also was limited in what I would be able to visit due to opening hours and when it would’ve been best for me to explore. I also was trying my best to walk to as many places as I could as opposed to taking an Uber if possible, limiting my time. This meant while I could view the museum from the outside, unfortunately I was not able to enter.
The museum located in Parc Borely is called, “Château Borély : Museum of decorative arts, earthenware and fashion.” Not surprisingly, you will find decorative arts, earthenware and fashion inside!
The museum itself was built by a family of Marseille merchants during the 18th century. Originally they had asked local architect Clérisseau but it was Esprit Brun who actually began the project. Unfortunately, he pased and Louis Joseph Denis continued the project, focusing on the rich decorative program inside of the castle. He completed the project around 1778. The three-level castle has two pavilions, a vast courtyard and portal to the rear with elegantly decorated and furnished rooms and a stunning private marble chapel.
It was closed to the public for a while but reopened in 2013. The museum itself displays a combination of the history of the place, the art of living in the 18th century, decorative arts and earthenware of the period along with other contemporary works. Upon entering, you will feel like you are back in the 18th century, being immersed in classic rooms decorated for the time- a dining room, reception, chapel, etc.
There will be porcelain, printed and gilded tableware, collections of Chinese glasses, jades and snuffboxes- a ceremonial room with a boudoir and wardrobe hidden in the wall. This is not just any museum, it is one that kicks you back in time and truly allows you to see what it might’ve been like back then.
There are fashion pieces and other works of art that allow you not only to feel like you’re in a room of the past, but also gives you a taste of what you may wear and what others may wear if only you weren’t in the 21st century. It’s more than a museum, but a cultural time shift.
Do I Recommend Parc Borely?
While I am saddened to not have been able to explore the museum itself, I would definitely visit it if I ever return to Marseille and have more time. Besides that, the park was gorgeous- well kept and a lovely and peaceful time. If you like flowers, nature and the occasional duck, I definitely recommend it whether you are solo traveling, traveling with friends or family. The park was gorgeous and plenty of places for Instagram photos if that’s your thing!
Cheers friends and travelers!
~ Backroad Butterflies ~
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