Centre de la Vieille Charite
- Address:2 rue de la Charité, Marseille
- Admission:Free
7:17 AM Sunday, May 27
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Designed by Marseillais architect Pierre Puget and constructed between 1671 and 1749, the 3-storey, arcaded courtyard of the Centre de la Vieille Charité wraps around Provence's most imposing Baroque church. Initially built as a charity shelter for the town's poor but it was more like a prison: 17th century France was tough. Chasse-gueux (beggar-hunters) were paid to round up the poor and put them into almshouses which were effectively workhouses. In 1736, the Centre housed 850, by 1760 it was 1059 but by 1781 it was less acceptable to imprison people just for being poor and the number dropped to 250.
Spared during the French Revolution and used as an asylum, the Centre then became a barracks, a soldiers' rest home and, later, low-cost housing for people who lost their homes during WWII, the stunning arched pink-stone courtyard of the Centre de la Vieille Charite now houses Marseille's beautiful Musee d'Archeologie Mediterraneenne and Musee d'Arts Africains, Oceaniens & Amerindiens. The latter houses a diverse and often striking collection, including masks from the Americas, Africa and the Pacific.
Latest Reviews All Centre de la Vieille Charite Reviews »
You get many discounts, including free admission to several attractions. Because there is so much that you can access with this pass, it helps if you will be in Marseille for at least a day. The longer you're there, the more savings you can enjoy with this pass. Even though we weren't there for a full day, we still enjoyed this pass. At the tourism office where we exchanged our vouchers for our passes the representative was very friendly and informative. Continue Reading »
This is a must if you plan on seeing a bunch of museums. Each museum costs 4-10 euros, which really adds up. The tourist board where you redeem your voucher is right across the street from the port and easy to find. The pass does not include the main tour bus, however - just a discount. Continue Reading »
Catch the underground train to Joliette.
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