Marignane is a French commune located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. It is bathed by the banks of the Berre and Bolmon ponds and crossed by the Rove canal.
Marignane is located to the south-east of the Etang de Berre, in a formerly marshy plain bordered to the south by the Estaque range and to the east by the Arbois plateau. The city is separated from the pond proper by a lagoon, the pond of Bolmon; the tongue of land between the two ponds, accessible from the north of the city, is called the Jai. It is crossed from east to west by the Cadière stream and its tributary the Raumartin, as well as by the Marseille-Rhône canal. The only relief in the town is a small plateau, called the plain Notre-Dame, which rises to 104 meters above sea level, to the east of the town.
The site of Marignane has been occupied by man since protohistoric times, on the hill (oppidum Notre Dame, 350 BC), then moved to the plain from the Gallo-Roman era. The heart of the old center of Marignane dates back to the early Middle Ages. The rise of the city is mainly due to the proximity of dynamic economic zones such as the airport, Eurocopter, oil refineries, the industrial zone of Vitrolles and the autonomous port of Marseille.
The city is known in the region for hosting the Marseille-Provence airport as well as the head office and one of the design and assembly plants of the company Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter), manufacturer of civil and military helicopters.
History
In prehistoric men lived in Marignane: the ancient remains on the hill of Notre-Dame de Pitié, dating back to this from a few centuries BC. Between Celto-Ligurians and Phocéens, Marignane really only saw the light of day with the Roman occupation, probably during the first centuries of our era, where its site could have been that of a domain belonging to a general or patrician. Roman named Marinius, or Marinian.
Middle Ages
According to A. Longnon at the time Carolingian (ix th century) and the x th century, Marignana, Cadarascum, Istrum and Fossa were the only cities around the Etang de Berre and, early in the reign of Henry I, in 1032, Marignana – with the first knights of the Pays d’Oc – and Fos were fiefdoms.
A castle was founded on the right-of-way of a Templar construction, a hypothesis reinforced by the fact that Guillaume and Raymond des Baux were of the first crusade and benefactors and members of the Order. The Templars had property in this seigneury of Marignane and in particular on the site of Saint-Michel de Gignac, today in the town of Rove.
The death of Queen Joanna I opened a crisis of succession to head the county of Provence, the cities of Aix Union (1382-1387) supporting Charles of Durazzo against Louis I of Anjou. The lord of Marignane, François Baux, endorses the Angevin in 1385, after the death of Louis I.
Modern era
The boundaries of the territory under the Ancien Régime are not those of a city with its administrative boundaries as we know them today, they are those of the influence of the lord: the seigneury. At the height of its territorial expansion, the seigneury of Marignane covered Marignane, but also Saint-Victoret and the territories of Gignac and Rove going as far as the Mediterranean creeks. Marquisate erected in 1647 in favor of Jean-Baptiste de Covet de Marignane.
Marignane and its lands pass into many hands by inheritance or sale until their attachment to the domain of the Count of Provence in the 15th century, then to its Governors from the House of Savoy. In 1603 and until the Revolution, the lands of Marignane belong to the future Marquis de Covet, one of the last representatives of whom is none other than the father-in-law of the famous Mirabeau, himself husband of Emilie de Covet-Marignane. The Covets will develop and embellish the superb castle, (now Hôtel de Ville), notably its facade in the 17th century, while several religious buildings are built; in addition to the old church of Saint-Nicolas (built from the 9th to the 15th century), the chapels of Notre-Dame de Pitié (1635), Saint-Nicolas (1695), Sainte-Anne (1710, now demolished) and the Convent of the Minimes (1695).
French Revolution
In Marignane, the supervisory committee was set up in 1793. It was recruited in part from simple peasants, sometimes illiterate, and its institution in a way marks the democratic apogee of the Revolution. The committee, responsible for overseeing the application of laws, devotes a large part of its activity to reading them, copying them, discussing their scope, and above all making them known to the entire population. It thus participates in the political and democratic training of citizens.
Contemporary period
The development of the city took place over a few years, under the impetus of the great industrial changes which propelled many Provencal villages to the rank of large cities.
The development of aviation will be the first step in the economic awakening of Marignane.
The construction of the imposing petrochemical complex on the banks of the Etang de Berre is also a component of the development of our city, but also the less positive cause of atmospheric and aquatic pollution.
Helicopter capital
Marignane is closely linked to aeronautics, and more particularly to the helicopter. Indeed, it is in front of Marignane that the first seaplane in the world flew on March 28, 1910! The long history of aviation in Marignane had just begun.
Today the aeronautical site is famous for its airport, second in France for freight, for its Civil Security air base which hosts Canadairs, Trackers, helicopters and recent Dash 8, but above all for its industrial site which for more than 60 years is at the forefront of aeronautical technologies. Headquarters of Eurocopter, world leader in the manufacture of civil and military helicopters, the Marignane plant, which employs more than 5,000 people, has seen the most famous and innovative helicopters in the world come out of its workshops: Alouette II (1955), Super Frelon (1962), Ecureuil (1974), Super Puma (1980), Tigre (1991) and NH 90 (1995).
Attractions
Albert Reynaud Museum
650 m2 of exhibition space. The museum dating from 1973 is housed in a wing of the Château des Marquis de Covet (18th century) Varied collections: old costumes, everyday objects from the last century, archeology, religious art, reconstruction of Provençal and historical scenes, aviation history, 1st and 2nd world wars.
Raimu Museum
Open since September 2014, the Raimu Museum, located on the Cours Mirabeau, allows you to walk in the actor’s footsteps. During visits you will discover the beauty of this masterpiece in which are carefully arranged various objects that have marked the life or career of Raimu. A life traced through numerous documents from his family’s personal collection.
The oppidum hill
The oppidum of the hill was classified as a historical monument in 2004, thus testifying to the richness of this site inhabited since the fourth century before Jesus-Christ! During this period, a Celto-Ligurian tribe settled on the hill of Notre-Dame de Pitié, a stronghold, located high up, at the crossroads of the merchant routes of Antiquity. The oppidum has been a small trading village since the Iron Age. Pottery, amphorae, agricultural implements, etc. were found there, some of which can be seen at the Musée de Marignane.
The Belfry
The Belfry corresponds to one of the 5 doors pierced during the construction of the surrounding wall and the first castle, around 1353. Built in 1516, it will serve as a municipal house, will have a bell tower and a clock for become the seat of civil power. On its facade, we can see symbols of companionship.
The mechanism of its original clock, dating from 1643, is still in action: it is demonstrated inside the belfry. The current clock dates from 1740. It has the particularity of having two dials and a single hand. It is animated by a rotary and reciprocating movement and provided with two drums with a weight of 7 kg for the clockwise movement and one of 20 kg for the sound movement. These weights descend into a well 12 m deep. The mechanism has an autonomy of 2 days. The rehabilitation of this clock system lasted 2 years, from 1992 to 1994 and was carried out by the association “Les Amis du Vieux Marignane”.
The Covet castle
The Chateau des Covets, now the Town Hall, is a remarkable building, built over five successive periods and completed from 1603 by Jean-Baptiste Covet, who became Lord of Marignane and his descendants. The castle, whose facade is inspired by that of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, is the only example of an Italian palace in Provence. It has a main courtyard and a 17th century staircase leading to the stately apartments, mostly baroque inspiration, richly decorated and decorated with frescoes, with French ceilings and imposing fireplaces. The castle is classified as a historical monument.
Saint-Nicolas Church
The Saint-Nicolas Church has been at the heart of Marignane’s life since the time of Charlemagne’s coronation, around the year 800. It is undoubtedly the oldest monument in Marignane. Since 1992, this parish building has been classified as a historical monument because of its architectural qualities, its square tower, in Romanesque style and 22 meters high, its sacred art, or the presence of a superb gilded wood altar in Renaissance style. offered by Louise de Savoie, mother of François 1er, in 1518.
The Church occupies an area of 1,707 square meters. It consists of a main nave 8.50 m high. The length of the sanctuary, from the choir to the main door, is 30 m; the two side naves, 5.50 m high, are only 26 m long. The sanctuary, relatively spacious, ends the main nave, its beautiful paving in white and black marble tiles, dating from 1855, covers a large part of the tombs, some of which are from the earliest ages.
It is assumed that this church, originally, was to be a time of idols dedicated to Diana of the Ephesians, as seen by the heads of rams and apocalyptic animals, and other emblems or figures, reminiscent of the architecture of paganism and placed in the bottom of the arches.
The high altar (altarpiece) is a Renaissance wonder, entirely in gilded wood, 6 m high and 4.25 m wide, filled with various subjects, statues, statuettes, bas-reliefs numbering 18 to the origin. This altarpiece would have been offered to the church of Marignane by Louise of Savoy in 1518, mother of King François 1st. According to legend, this altar would be an imitation of one of those of Saint Mary Major of Rome.
La Chapelle N.-D. of pity
The Notre-Dame de Pitié Chapel was built after 1635, following a wish from the population of Marignane spared by the major floods that occurred that year on the banks of the Etang de Berre. The faithful placed a statue of the Virgin there as well as numerous ex-votos and pledged that a solemn procession take place in the city every September 7th. The chapel is built on the site of a protohistoric village, occupied between the 4th and the end of the 3rd century BC.
Homage to the virgin
It was built following a wish made in tragic circumstances: that same year, at the end of the summer, after torrential and repeated rains, Cadière overflowed and flooded the entire territory of Marignane. In the village, the water reached the 1st floor of the houses, causing many victims, which caused consternation and misery in the country. It was during these terrible events that the Clergy, the notables and the whole population expressed the memorable wish that as soon as the waters were withdrawn, in recognition, a chapel would be built at the top of the hill, on the site of a building. older and which would become the sanctuary of the venerable statue of the virgin in the church of Marignane. This wish also provided for an adjoining hermitage, intended to guard the premises; it further stipulated, by a formal promise, that each year, at the same time, on the evening of September 7, the eve of the anniversary of the virgin’s nativity, the statue would be taken down to the church in a solemn procession, to be reassembled for 15 days more late September 21, St Mathieu’s Day. To this day, this event still takes place.
Saint-Joseph Chapel
A listed building, the Chapelle Saint-Nicolas was completely rehabilitated in 2003 and renamed the Chapelle Saint-Joseph. Its position on a hill slightly raised above the plain gives it a role of signal and reception for the traveler coming from the North. The Jubilee Cross of 1769 underlines this vocation.
The Convent of the Minims
Installed in Marignane from 1648, the Minimal Fathers relieved the poor and taught children from 1701. The convent closed during the Revolution and was subsequently transformed into a cellar before becoming, in 2002, the current Maison des associations, municipal service for associations in our city. Covering an area of 800 m2, spread over two levels, the convent offers a large space made available to the 270 associations of the city: conference rooms, exhibitions, etc.
Industrial heritage
The two aircraft hangars at Boussiron: A technical feat from the 1950s, the 4,000-ton vaults of which were cast on the ground and mounted by jacks before the walls were built. Located inside the airport (beach road).
The Marseille-Rhône canal from the outlet of the Rove tunnel to the Bolmon pond via the Saint-Pierre port, hardly used since the neutralization of the Rove tunnel in 1963.
House Rocailleurs: Decorative facades and shaped by imitating cement stone or wood craft of Italian masons in the early xx th century (located angle avenues Marshal June and Kennedy).
Historic Center: There are houses in the 15th to the xx th century, archaeological evidence cemetery graves under tiles, Roman marbles, ceramics of the 11th century.
Oppidum: Historical monument, the oppidum said the name of the hill of Our Lady of Mercy, was historic monument in 2004, reflecting the archaeological interest of the site inhabited since the iv th century BC. AD (-380) either in the second iron age. Surveys by Lucien François Gantès, now archaeologist of the Marseille heritage workshop, have brought to light Massaliote and Etruscan ceramics, amphorae, millstones… archaeological furniture, some of which are visible at the Marignane museum, and to locate a small artisan workshop. Current research carried out by Marcel Germain focuses on the study of the ramparts which reveal another dimension of the site. Indeed, it develops further west, the whole making nearly two hectares. It would seem that on the vast indigenous site, perhaps contemporary with the Laure camp, a smaller site was installed, the one excavated by L.-F. Gloves, which would be a bastion founded by the Greeks of Marseille to protect their city. Given the importance of the site highlighted by Marcel Germain, the SRA (Regional Archaeological Service) asked him to make a presentation for “Marseille-Provence, European capital of culture 2013”. This presentation will be accompanied by a live show that is both popular and cultural: Grannus, a gathering of Gallic tribes. This reconstruction will allow visitors to discover both the history of the site and Gallic civilization. A premiere will take place on September 25, 2010.
The belfry: it corresponds to one of the possible doors of the surrounding wall towards 1353. Embellished in 1516 during the passage François Icame to Marseilles to settle local affairs. This ceremonial belfry, without a portcullis, will serve as a town hall and will be equipped with a clock giving the time of civil power. On its facade, one could wrongly attribute symbols of the companionship that exist elsewhere in the historic center on an old cayenne or stonemason’s workshop. It is located at place C.-Desmoulins.
The castle of Marignane Marignane and its lands passed through many hands through inheritance or sale to their relevance in the field of the Count of Provence to the 15th century, and its governors from the House of Savoy. From 1603 to the Revolution, the lands of Marignane belong to the Covet family, one of whose last representatives is none other than the father of Émilie de Covet-Marignane, wife of Mirabeau whose divorce will cause a resounding scandal. The Covets will enlarge, develop and embellish the medieval castle of Les Baux then of Françoise de Foix, (Town Hall today), in particular its facade in the 17th century century, while several religious buildings were constructed: the chapels of Our Lady of Mercy (1635), Saint-Nicolas (xii -1695), St. Anne (1710), now demolished and the monastery Minims (1701).
“It is in this castle, that by order of the young king Charles IX (November 23, 1561), the count of Tende, lord of Marignane, governor of Provence, will hold Nostradamus in prison. Passing through Salon-de-Provence on December 16, 1561, the count had Nostradamus arrested and took him with him to his castle in Marignane. The two men were friends, and the imprisonment was more like putting in residence! On the following December 18, Claude de Tendre wrote to the king: “ With regard to Nostradamus, I had him seized and am with me, having forbidden him to do more almanacz and pronstications, which he promised me. You will please tell me what you like me to do with it. “Nostradamus had indeed published his predictions for 1562 without the Imprimatur, which had then put the Pope in Avignon in a mad anger to the point of having recourse to the king. ”
– Marcel Germain, Marignane inventory of heritage, 2005.
Religious monuments
The Saint-Nicolas church is at the heart of Marignane’s life. Unfounded to date, it has been assigned by a local scholar of the early 19th century a legendary origin of the “epoch of the coronation of Charlemagne.” Its nave, the oldest visible part, was dated by M. Germain between 1091 and 1094 thanks to the texts of the cartulary; it is about a “reconstruction” of which we do not yet know if it is on the previous church, also known by the texts of the cartulary. The main changes are 13th (choir and northeast chapel, restored in the 16th century), 16th (four chapels) and 19th centuries (other chapels and chapels south elevation of the 16th century). Since 1992, this parish building has been classified as a historical monument because of its history and the interest of its architectural development. Its square tower is 22 meters high. The altarpiece by the master of Marignane, polychrome from the Renaissance, gilded before Louis XV, was offered by Louise of Savoy, in 1523 (donor represented in Mary in the Annunciation) as a mark of spiritual authority over the city while she took the lordship from the Constable of Bourbon as mentioned in the Treaty of Madrid of 1526. It could have been financed by Jacques de Beaune, Baron de Semblançay.
The Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy was built on an oppidum. At the beginning of the 11th century, an oratory was built by Raymond I. Baux, a survivor of the massacre of Tripoli (1105) during the First Crusade. The place was then called Defens but probably changed its name in 1638 when the King of France consecrated our country to the Virgin in front of a painting of Notre-Dame-de-Pitié.
The chapel was restored in September 2015; finds his ex-voto and his Pietà painting.
The chapel of Saint-Nicolas, a time called Saint-Joseph, is already mentioned in the register of synodal taxes in 1217. It was enlarged later with a facade dated 1695 classified as a historical monument. The Saint-Nicolas chapel was completely rehabilitated in 2003 and renamed Saint-Joseph chapel. This last name fell into disuse with the persistence of the original name. It is located rue Guillaumet.
The current convent of the Minimal Fathers, installed in Marignane from 1648, was inaugurated in 1701 by Joseph Covet and Marie de Crussol. Requisitioned for the plague victims in 1720, which became a national property under the Revolution, it was subsequently transformed into a storeroom and then a dwelling before becoming, in 2002, the current House of Associations, a municipal service for associations in the city. Covering an area of 800 m 2, spread over two levels, the convent offers a large space made available to the 270 associations of the city: conference rooms, exhibitions, etc. It is located rue Lamartine.
The chapel of the White Penitents
The Es-Salam Mosque is located within the Florida Parc private residence. As in all mosques, the man and the woman do not pray in the same room. Thus it offers a space for men and women.
Cultural heritage
The city has a Museum of History, Art and Popular Traditions at 14 rue Covet. It has many rooms: archeology, religious objects, agricultural equipment, local and Provencal traditions, militaria, aviation, hunting, fishing, the Rove canal, etc. This museum was named Albert Reynaud after its founder in 2013.
In the course of 2014, the Raimu museum (theater and cinema actor 1883-1946) opened at Cours Mirabeau.
Cultural events and festivities
The city hosts many exhibitions at the Saint-Exupéry cultural center: collectors, postcards, well-being, renewable energies, etc. Fairs also take place on Cours Mirabeau: plants, gastronomy, garage sales, etc.
Carnival that has existed since 1950
Celtic festivals in March
Grannus, Gallic village on Pentecost Sunday
Provençal festivals and Heritage Days in September
Singing competition in August
Votive festivals (fairgrounds) at the end of August
Feasts at Jaï beach in July and August.
Calendale vigil and crèche with its life-size figures at the ND.-de-Pitié chapel in December
christmas village
Natural heritage
Marignane is located at the edge of the pond of Berre, on its territory is the pond of Bolmon and the marshes of Paluns. These natural environments classified as wet protected areas are the property of the Conservatoire du littoral; there are many species of aquatic birds visible from an equipped observatory.
Notre Dame hill
Composed of a limestone blanket resting on a clay mattress dating from the late Cretaceous (70 million years), the hill could contain the remains of dinosaur eggs. After deforestation linked to the pastoralism of the Gauls of the oppidum, the rocky hill is exposed to the mistral and has seen only a modest culture of olive trees and vines develop. Currently, it is covered by a low garrigue developing under a pine forest resulting from reforestation operations. The vegetation of the western flank, on a bed of damp clay, is composed of riverside species.
The wetland of La Palun
This zone is made up of a mosaic of environments including pine forest, dry meadow, wet meadow, humid forest, temporary marshes and permanent marshes. This richness of environments is favorable to the development of 9 species of Orchids and the presence of 250 species of birds (sedentary and migratory wintering or nesting).
The Rove canal
The work of digging the canal and boring the tunnel began in 1910 and was completed in 1927 after 17 years of work. At that time, the purpose of these works was to link Marseille, an international commercial port, to the Rhône, a river penetration route into the heart of Western Europe. It (alas) collapsed in 1963, interrupting the passage of boats and water which became stagnant.
The coastal barrier of Jaï
coastal barrier of JaïComposed of coarse, fine sands and silts, the sandy coastline of Jaï separates the ponds of Berre and Bolmon. It has characteristic vegetation adapted to the sun, salt, sand and wind. It is crossed by 3 bourdigues, communication and fishing channels between the 2 ponds.
The coastal discovery trail
Laid out in 2006, the coastal discovery path of the Etang de Berre offers walkers, athletes or tourists a nice stroll through our natural sites, from the Etang de Berre to the hill of Notre-Dame, via the Bolmon. This path, carried out within the framework of the Territorial Agreement of Objectives, has many observation points and facilities which allow everyone to admire the riches of our territory.
The pond of Berre
The Berre pond is the largest salt pond in Europe. It is surrounded by 10 towns with around 240,000 inhabitants. Its natural watershed covers an area of 142,000 hectares. It receives fresh water from small coastal rivers such as Arc, Touloubre and Cadière. It is salty thanks to the sea water entering through the Caronte channel.
Bolmon pond
Southern extension of its big brother, the Etang de Berre, the Etang de Bolmon is less salty than this one because it is further from the sea and receives fresh water from Cadière. Its fish fauna is less rich in marine species but conceals a large population of carp. Its fish as well as the reed beds bordering it attract a large population of aquatic birds.
Wildlife
The fauna of wetlands and ponds is very rich in species and represents a rare heritage in a region where drought is one of the characteristics of the climate.