This entirely pedestrian square is named after a French naval officer, hero of the Second World War and martyr of the Resistance Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves. Although today the square’s symbol is a huge statue and fountain dedicated to famous artist of Marseille, Pierre Puget.

During its long history, the square used to be an arsenal and had galleys. The arsenal was built and enlarged successively by Charles VII and Louis XIV until the galleys became obsolete in the early 18th century. For sometime the arsenal here was the largest in France and had up to 40 galleys in service. In 1748 the ships and the arsenal were moved to Toulon. Also the site used to have canals, which were completed in 1707. Later the canals were filled and transformed into a square that became a large open-air car park before it was turned into pedestrian square in 1989.

Cours d'Estienne d'Orves

Cours Honoré-d’Estienne-d’Orves, 13001 Marseille